St. Martinus Wine Estate

The Netherlands

"I'm happy to be a winemaker in the Netherlands."

It's been a while since we visited St. Martinus Wine Estate in southern Limburg. When we launched Tasty Tales back in 2013, nearly every Dutch vineyard we visited mentioned one name: Stan Beurskens. As a wine consultant he has played a key role in Dutch winemaking. It’s been on our radar for years, but we finally got around to adding his Limburg wine estate to the platform.

A wine estate in Vijlen

Back in 2019, we found ourselves in the region by chance, just as the harvest season was in full swing. That spontaneous visit led to this blog post: Wine harvest season in Southern Limburg. Now, a few years later, we’re back. But this time, we planned ahead, with an appointment to visit St. Martinus winery. And honestly? The drive alone, through Limburg’s scenic hills, is worth the trip.

A visit to St. Martinus Wine Estate takes you uphill in every sense of the word. The village of Vijlen sits at around 195 meters above sea level, making it the highest village in the Netherlands. Just a short drive away, you'll find the Vaalserberg, which rises to over 322 meters and marks the three-country point, where the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany meet. It’s also officially the highest point in the country. The St. Martinus wine estate itself sits just beneath the village, on the western slope of Vijlen.

The origins of St. Martinus Wine Estate

The history of St. Martinus Wine Estate goes back to 1986 when Hans Beurskens, father of current winemaker Stan Beurskens, planted a selection of grape varieties at what is now the site of the wine estate. His goal was to discover which grapes could thrive in the unique soil and climate of South Limburg. What started as a small test plot soon grew into something much bigger. As more vines were added, the foundation was laid for what would become a ‘real’ vineyard.

Every vineyard needs a name, and for this Limburg vineyard in Vijlen, the inspiration came from just down the road as the local church in the village is named St. Martinus. This St. Martin of Tours, the church’s namesake, holds special significance in the world of wine. He’s traditionally known as the patron saint of winemakers, especially in France. In fact, Saint Martin (Sint Martinus) is also the patron saint of just about anything you can think of as it is probably the most revered saint on the planet.

Largest wine estate in the Netherlands

Stan gradually took on a larger role in managing the estate. Determined to expand his knowledge, he pursued formal studies in oenology at two of the world’s most respected institutions: Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the Hochschule Geisenheim in Germany.

The growth of St. Martinus Wine Estate is a remarkable success story in the world of Dutch viticulture. What began modestly has, over the decades, expanded into the largest vineyard in the Netherlands. At the turn of the century, the vineyard covered just 1.5 hectares. By 2010, the vineyard had already expanded to more than 7 hectares, a significant size by Dutch standards. Fast forward to 2020, and the estate had reached an impressive 28 hectares. Today, that number stands at 32 hectares!

What grape varieties is St. Martinus wine made from?

From the beginning, St. Martinus Wine Estate has embraced innovation by planting modern grape varieties specially developed for cooler northern climates. These are the same resilient varieties now seen across many Dutch vineyards, suited to the conditions of the Netherlands’ wine regions. When it comes to red wine, Stan cultivates a diverse range of grapes, including newer hybrids such as Cabernet Cortis, Cabernet Cantor, Baron, Rondo and Monarch. Alongside these modern grapes, classic blue grape varieties like Pinot Noir and Dornfelder are also planted on the Limburg estate.

St. Martinus white wines are predominantly made from modern grapes like Souvignier Gris, Cabernet Blanc and Johanniter. The acquisition of an existing vineyard in Voerendaal in 2019 brought in classic white grape varieties such as Auxerrois, Riesling, and Chardonnay.

Guided tour and wine tasting St. Martinus

A visit to the St. Martinus Wine Estate in Vijlen is an absolute must for any lover of Dutch wine or wine tourism in the Netherlands. While Limburg is home to several beautiful vineyards, St. Martinus stands out as one of the most advanced and prestigious wineries in the region, and even the country. 

What makes this vineyard so unique isn’t just its scenic hillside setting but what lies beneath your feet. Quite literally. Hidden below the vineyard is an 18-meter-deep, modern and sustainable underground wine cellar that houses every step of the winemaking process: from fermentation and aging in oak barrels, to bottling and quality control in an on-site laboratory.

You can book a comprehensive group tour of the estate, which lasts over two hours and includes a guided walk through the vineyards, a peek behind the scenes in the winery, and a wine tasting. A private tour is also available for a more personalized experience. While spontaneous visits are welcome, especially if you’d like to enjoy a glass of wine on the sunny terrace or take home a few bottles, many of the estate’s activities do require advance booking. So be sure to plan ahead!

Updated: 02-05-2025