05/07/2024
Last Monday we spent an afternoon with Huib from to taste his new wines but mostly to see the progress on his vitiforestry project.
Vitiforestry is an old concept thatâs making a comeback, where winemakers are restoring the ancient connection between vines and trees. Even though we know vineyards as endless, neat rows of vines growing on a wire system, this is very far from how the grapevine naturally behaves.
Like other vines, the grapevine naturally grows into the canopy of trees and high shrubs. Finding its way through the branches towards sunlight and nestling there, in a natural symbiosis between tree and vine. Above ground, but in the soil as well. When Huib had to replant parts of his 2ha vineyard, he planted young willow trees besides the vines instead of posts. His aim is to shape the willow trees just like a trellis system, so the vine can grow as in other vineyards, while underground the symbiosis between those plants hopefully reinforces the health of both.
When we visited last time, this was just a plan. Now we got to see it in action. Riesling, Pinot Noir, Elbling, Kerner and Pinot Madeleine are planted besides the young willows and weâre very curious to see how these finicky grape varieties will settle in Huibâs natural and unsprayed vineyards.
We tasted the wines and theyâre singing, youâll find them in our shop very soon! Also, Huib & Lotte now have doubled their tipiâs to two, available for rent and we canât recommend it enough. Waking up in a corner of some of Europeâs most natural vineyards is a real treat! Check out for more info and drop by the shop soon to taste the new wines!
