Wine castle in Genoelselderen

Genoelselderen has become especially known for the Wine Castle. Since 1990, the neoclassical building from the eighteenth century has been owned by the flamboyant Dutchman Jaap van Rennes. It is surrounded by a vineyard of twenty hectares, good for an annual production of nearly one hundred thousand bottles. Together with his daughter Joyce, Van Rennes cultivates chardonnay and, to a lesser extent, pinot noir. He also makes two sparkling wines and three types of eau-de-vie. ‘Water of life,’ says the former businessman, who now sits on his tractor every day. Visits are possible but must be requested.

Tip for a summer day: the Rosé Parel Brut méthode traditionnelle. When the late Jaap van Rennes moved here with his family 35 years ago, there was virtually no winemaking left in Limburg. The Dutch former businessman already predicted then that climate warming would play an important role in the development of wine culture in the more northern areas. People were somewhat dismissive about it, but he was right. His daughter is continuing his work in a professional manner. Those considering an overnight stay can find the charming B&B Sapere run by Jan van Poortvliet and his partner Manon across the street. Opposite the Wine Castle is a nice restaurant, also operated by Dutch people. Jan van Poortvliet is the friendly host, while his wife Manon cooks.

Around the Wine Castle, there are more than 15 hectares of vineyards.
The castle is located along the old main road that connected Tongeren with Cologne. The Romans were the first to make wine here.

In addition to the vineyards, visitors can also view the rose garden, the distillery, the pressing house, and 13th-century wine cellars.

Mediahuis België