The first Wine Festival of the Low Countries, a unique event dedicated to wines from the Netherlands and Belgium, took place on Sunday 1 September 2024. This groundbreaking festival, organised by the Dutch Wine Institute Foundation, brought together around thirty Dutch and Belgian winemakers to present their best wines to the public.

Location and time

The festival was held at the picturesque Landgoed Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt in Beesd, from 13:00 to 18:00. This beautiful location was the perfect setting for an afternoon of wine tasting and culinary exploration.

Banner for a wine festival with clinking wine glasses and details of the event, against a green background.

Diversity of wines

Visitors could enjoy a wide range of wines, including white wines, red wines, rosés and sparkling wines. The growing popularity and quality of Belgian and Dutch wines was clearly reflected in the offer, underlining the enormous development in the viticulture of the Low Countries.

Activities and education

In addition to wine tasting, the festival also offered various educational opportunities:

  • Speed masterclasses: Experts gave short, intensive classes on various aspects of wine production in cool climates.
  • Wine tasting of the Low Countries: Award-winning wines were available to taste and there was a presentation of prizes.
  • KIESKURK audience awards: Visitors could vote for their favorite Dutch or Belgian wine.

Sponsoring and prizes

CoolVaria was present as one of the sponsors and presented a wine cooler available as a prize for the visitors. This added to the festive atmosphere and gave visitors an extra reason to participate in the activities.

A person with short hair stands at a wooden table near a display titled "Klimaan." A barrel and wooden crates sit nearby, with trees and festive streamers in the background.

Weather conditions and atmosphere

The day was characterized by warm weather, which was perfect for tasting and enjoying the various wines. The high temperatures ensured that many visitors enthusiastically participated in the tastings, resulting in a lively and cozy atmosphere.

A person stands by a promotional banner outside, depicting a group of people clinking glasses. Trees and a building are visible in the background.

Quality and variety

The level of the wines presented was impressive, highlighting the rapid development and growing expertise in viticulture in the Low Countries. Visitors were pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the locally produced wines.