Anne Hulshof runs through her vineyard in Valthermond. She stoops, cuts some leaves and points to a bunch of grapes. “It already looks nice, isn’t it?” she says. What started as a joke: “Own wine, that would be pretty nice,” grew into a vineyard of almost four hectares in a short time, with about six thousand grape plants.
Further on, Hulshof are standing her children and volunteers roam around the rows with grape plants. “Everyone helps,” smiles Hulshof. “It’s really a family project.”
Hulshof (37) runs with her family an arable and contracting company. “More than full -time work,” she says. Yet it started to itch, she loves wine and wanted to try something else.
“We started four thousand plants a year and a half ago, only a white grape, but we also wanted red.” It is more difficult to harvest in the Netherlands, the grape needs more sun and is more sensitive to fungi and bacteria. “We had requested some information and apparently ordered immediately, accidentally. Then my father said,” Well, order something with it, then we will do well too. ” And so came in no time Another hectare. “
The first year was not easy. “It was so wet, not a good start. We have pruned almost everything, only a few plants have remained standing and they are now doing surprisingly well.”
She points to a long line with sturdy plants. “Look, there are already beautiful bunches on it. With a bit of luck we can already harvest this year, maybe mid -September.”
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