A first for the Gault&Millau guide of Belgian wines and the Belgian Wine Awards 2023
On Monday 26 June, at the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s Hotel in Brussels, the very first Gault&Millau Belgian Wine Guide was presented to a particularly interested Belgian and international press. The guide is intended to be a compilation of the best wines from the kingdom’s flagship wineries, and aims to become a benchmark in the world of Belgian wine.
The production of quality Belgian wines has really taken off in recent years. At a time when restaurants are increasingly turning to local products, it goes without saying that our country’s wines deserve to feature prominently on their menus. There were just under 200 winegrowers in our country in 2020, a number that rose to 259 wineries last year, which, with a production of 4 million bottles, represents double the volume of the excellent 2018 year.
So it was the perfect time for Gault&Millau to put together its first guide to Belgium’s many quality wines. Especially to list the flourishing production of Belgian winegrowers and also to make it easier for wine lovers and professionals to discover their best references.
In this first edition of the guide, Gault&Millau takes the reader on a journey of discovery of 82 quality vineyards and their specific terroir, detailing 172 wines. To do this, a panel of over 30 sommeliers and experts with national and international experience tasted almost 300 different wines. Participation in the tasting session was entirely free of charge for the wineries. In the end, the jury selected 42 wines as favourites, 18 of which were awarded a Belgian Wine Award 2023 in five categories.
The guide also focuses on the different grape varieties grown in Belgium, looks at the terroir, climate and history of Belgian wine, and discusses the different “appellations contrôlées”.
The guide also gives pride of place to restaurants serving several Belgian wines and to wine tourism, which is growing strongly in the various regions. Our first Belgian wine guide was produced in collaboration with Stefaan Soenen and Gido Van Imschoot.
The Gault&Millau 2023 Wine Guide is fully illustrated and 228 pages long. It is on sale for EUR 25.95 from De Standaard bookshop or via the Gault&Millau Online Shop.
Belgian Wine Awards 2023
Sparkling wines :
Domaine du Chant d’Eole, Cuvée Réserve Brut 2018
Cruysem, Cruysem Cuvée 2018/2019
Ravenstein, Blanc de Blanc Brut 2019
Schorpion, Zwart Brut 2016
Vignobles des Agaises, Ruffus Grand Millésime 2018
Vin de Liège, L’Insoumise réserve 2019
White wines :
Aldeneyck, Riesling 2019
Château Bon Baron, Chardonnay 2018
Château de Bousval, Tout Cru 2020
Clos d’Opleeuw, Chardonnay 2020
Gloire de Duras, Pinot Gris Barrique 2021
La Falize, Chardonnay 2019
Wijnkasteel Vandeurzen, Chardonnay Carat, 2020
Red wines :
Aldeneyck, Charles 2018
Château Bon Baron, Trésor La Grande 2018
Wijnfaktorij, Chansaar 2019
Sparkling rosé wine :
Dappersveld-Woestijn, Bruut Rosé Extra Brut 2019
Semi-dry wine :
Vin de Liège, Notes Blanches 2021
Province of Limburg at the top of the rankings in terms of both quantity and quality
Breakdown of domains and awards by province, giving the following breakdown:
Vivium Assurances, a committed partner
To produce the first Belgian Wine Guide, Gault&Millau was able to call on a number of partners, including Vivium Assurances, which took on the role of lead partner with particular enthusiasm. “Just like the carefully selected vineyards in this guide, we’re driven by a passion for entrepreneurship, quality and local expertise,” says Véronique D’haese, Commercial Director of the Group.. “The Belgian wine sector has undergone an impressive evolution in recent years, in terms of size, quality and diversity, with international recognition as the cherry on top. Vivium, as a Belgian insurer, is proud to associate its name with this exciting world and, together with its partner brokers, is ready to put its expertise at the service of the entrepreneurs who are making Belgium a wine country.”
