It promises to be a good vintage

Last year there were thirty registered winegrowers in our province, good for almost 90 hectares of vineyards and just under 200,000 liters of wine. This year they expect a lot more.

Four years ago, Christmas tree grower Johan Lescrauwaet from Jabbeke planted his first vines. As a hobby. During corona, his daughter and son-in-law came to lend a hand. And so the idea grew to go all out. The Christmas trees, except for a few specimens, have all made way for vines. Johan Lescrauwaet, Wine Estate Lescrauwaet: “The advantage of many years of Christmas trees is that the soil is a bit exhausted. That benefits the grapes and creates a better taste in the wines. It was written in the stars that I had to grow wine. Also because the climate is changing and the future looks bright in this sector. Especially with these temperatures. Normally it should be a great year. We expect much better this year.” (read more below the photo)

They chose classic French grape varieties such as pinot gris and pinot noir, because they like to drink that wine themselves and because those varieties grow well here. “I like all wines, both white, rosé, red and sparkling wine. Emma is a little less a fan of sparkling wine, Johan a little less of rosé. So we just do everything.” Next year they will bring the first wine bottles on the market and expand them from three to five hectares. That should make it profitable.