"We grow varieties for the northern climate. Really different from those in France..."
Bommelerwaard, in between Maas and Waal
On a typical cloudy and rainy day in the Netherlands, that obviously shows the challenges Dutch winemakers have to face, we paid a visit to Wijndomein Oude Waalstroom in the village of Hurwenen. The small winery of two hectares is located in the region Bommelerwaard, in between the rivers Maas and Waal, not far from the historic city of Zaltbommel. The rivers have a direct impact on the soil and provide a fluvial deposit of sandy clay, ideal for fruit growing.
Organic winemaking
For owners Huib Overmars and Lotte Rippen it really was a dream come true to find a vineyard for sale. It even already existed for ten years before they acquired it in 2007. That gave them the unique opportunity to quickly go in full production. The best thing about this vineyard however was that the previous owner grew his grapes organically already and without any doubt they chose to continue this ecological approach.
New PIWI grape varieties
By using so called PIWI grape varieties that are more suitable for the Dutch climate, it’s possible for Wijndomein Oude Waalstroom to produce wines in an organic, traditional and sustainable way. Varieties used for white wine production are Johanniter, Solaris, Bianca and Palatina. For producing red wines in these cool, wet conditions, the varieties they use are Regent, Rondo, Cabernet Cortis and Cabernet Cantor.
Wine tasting at Wijndomein Oude Waalstroom
The winery is not open daily to the public, but only by appointment. You can book a variety of arrangements though for gatherings large and small, tasting included of course! Combine it with a walk or bike ride on this ‘island’ between the two big rivers and experience the rich history of nearby fortresses and castles. Tired? Go to the city of Zaltbommel, sit on a terrace along the river with a glass of wine and watch the large riverboats pass under the bridge.