Dutch wine

Wineries in the Jeker Valley (Jekerdal) in the border area between Maastricht, the Netherlands, and Kanne, Belgium.

Dutch wine (Dutch: Nederlandse wijn) is wine made in the Netherlands. Although a small producer of wine, the first mentioning of viniculture in what is now the Netherlands dates back to 968. However, modern production of wine was started only in the 1970s and is nowadays a strong growing branch of Dutch agriculture. Currently, the country has 180 commercial vineyards.

Wine regions of the Netherlands

Most of the Dutch vineyards, collectively measuring 160 ha (2007), are to be found in the provinces of Gelderland and Limburg. In addition, there are vineyards in North Brabant, North Holland, Zeeland and more in northern Drenthe, Overijssel and Groningen.

Climate

Because of the unfavourable Dutch climate, the classic international grapes Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are not planted on a large scale.

Grapes

The following grape varieties are permitted by the applicable legislation (Verordening HPA Wijn 2009):

White

Auxerrois, Bacchus, Bianca, Chardonnay, Faber, Gewürztraminer, Hölder, Huxelrebe, Johanniter, Juwel, Kerner, Kernling, Merzling, Morio Muscat, Müller Thurgau, Orion, Ortega, Phoenix, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris/Ruländer, Rayon d'or, Reichensteiner, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Scheurebe, Schönburger, Seyval, Siegerrebe, Silcher, Solaris, Sylvaner, Würzer

Red

Cabernet Franc, Domina, Dornfelder, Dunkelfelder, Florental, Frühburgunder, Gamay, Landal 244 N, Léon Millot, Maréchal Foch, Meunier, Pinot noir, Plantet, Portugiezer, Regent, Rondo, St. Laurent, Triomphe d'Alsace, Zweigeltrebe

Gallery

• EesWiengoodAldenborghwkped06.JPG

  Vineyard Aldenborgh in Eys, Limburg

• Wijngaard Wageningen.jpg

  Vineyard near Wageningen, Gelderland

References

http://www.dewijnhoek.nl/nederland/druivenrassenNederland.html