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Blog van Faye Cardwell: http://bubbleandchic.me/2011/12/16/another-episode-in-the-belgian-wines-tale/
They say that once you discover something, you see it everywhere. That seems to be the case. Since I became less ignorant about the existence of Belgian wines – and drinkable, pleasant Belgian wines at that – (see my post on Belgian Bubbles) it seems Belgian wines are haunting me – in a pleasant rather than spooky way, I might add. Not only did our tasting prove that Belgian bubbles can mix it with the best, but a Belgian wine expert in a blind tasting for Gazet Van Antwerpen, also had Belgians popping the Champagnes. So the next question is, where do we find them?
Au contraire to the traditional way where a shop opened and then later offered internet delivery, Belgianwines.com did it the other way around, last night hosting the official opening of it’s retail outlet where it offers customers that invaluable experience of sniffing, swirling, slurping, feeling, stroking and holding a wine before you hand your money over. Call me old fashioned, but there’s something special about that experience, especially when it concerns something so sensuous as wine.
So last night, clients, friends, wine tweeters, and the plain curious, headed over to the quiet area village of Melsele outside Antwerp, to find out more and to see the new place.
They have a nice range of wines on offer, from some of what I am told to be be Belgian’s better wine producers all on offer at the same price you would pay if you knocked on the producer’s door. After tasting the whole selection, here are some of my favourites of the night:
Fresh and fruity, Sparkling, Entre Deux Monts, Wiscoutre 14.50 euro
Personality, Cabernet Dorsa, 16.95 euro
Smokey red, Pinot Noir, Aldeneyck 17.90 euro.
Fruity pink, Ry d’Argent, Rose’, 9 euro
So next time curiosity gets the better of you, you know where to head. If that’s not your neck of the woods, wines can be ordered online. Unfortunately at the moment the website is only available in Dutch although English and French versions are in the pipeline for next year.
Where: Belgianwines.com, Kapelstraat 3, 9120 Melsele |
