"By means of classical music we influence the vines."
Turning a problem into an opportunity
In this beautiful rural and rather unspoilt part of the Netherlands, John Huisman took over the dairy farm business from his parents. Together with his wife Wilma he turned it into an organic dairy farm when he developed a serious hernia. He was advised to switch to a different kind of job.
Together they turned this challenge into an opportunity for transformation and this led them to set up a vineyard. A well-solved problem!
Striving to produce Dutch organic wines
At winery Wijngoed De Reestlandhoeve they strive to make Dutch organic wines. For that reason hybrid grape varieties like Johanniter and Solaris were planted for making white wines. Regent and Muscat Bleu are used for making red wines.
The grapes are cultivated as much as possible in an organic and bio-dynamic way. That means for instance that they don’t use fertilizers or chemical weed killers.
Serenading grapes with classical music in the vineyards
Wilma is also trained as a classical homeopath and that has everything to do with the the music you hear while walking in the vineyard. Homeopathy has to do with frequencies, which are linked to music. So the use of baroque music in the vineyard is not just an aesthetic choice but above all an analytical one.
Research shows that certain sound vibrations and frequencies can have a positive influence on plant growth. Does it influence the taste of their wines at all? You'll have to judge for yourself!
Visiting Reestdal valley
Winery Wijngoed De Reestlandhoeve is located on the provincial border of Overijssel and Drenthe in ‘Het Reestdal’, the valley of the river Reest. Local provincial authorities preserve large stretches of nature in this area because of its unique and unspoilt character.
Meadows, historical farms, forests… experience this beautiful rural and peaceful part of the Netherlands by bike or go for a walk. Nearby you find cities like Dedemsvaart, Hoogeveen and Hardenberg that received city rights already in 1362!