Vignoble du Château De Bousval

I first came across Château de Bousval at Belgian Wines, a small bar in Antwerp that only pours local producers. It’s the kind of place where every bottle feels intentional. I already knew the country’s wine scene was on the rise, but this one stood out immediately — bright, cool, and full of character.

Château de Bousval is based in the Walloon countryside, south of Brussels. The estate isn’t built on generations of tradition; it’s much more recent. The land had been left alone for years and was thought to be too cool for vines, especially sitting further north than Champagne. Michel Verhaeghe de Naeyer, however, saw potential rather than limitations.

The first vines were planted in 2014 across just over five hectares of gently sloping land. Chardonnay forms the backbone, with Pinot Noir and a little Pinot Gris completing the picture. From the start, the philosophy was clear: organic farming, healthy soils, and a focus on letting the site speak for itself instead of imitating its neighbours.

Today, Bousval is certified organic and biodynamic. When you see the vineyard, you get a sense of how alive it is — grasses between the rows, hedgerows buzzing with insects, vines settling into a climate that’s challenging but rewarding. Everything feels intentional and grounded.

The wines carry that same energy. They’re precise and fresh, but not shy. They feel distinctly Belgian: cool-climate, modern, and very comfortable with their own identity. It’s a young estate, but already one of the more exciting names in the region. I’m thrilled to bring these wines to Australia and give them the attention they deserve.

In Their Own Words — The Story of Château de Bousval

Château de Bousval began when Michel Verhaeghe de Naeyer decided to revive a neglected piece of Walloon land. Work on the estate started around 2004, eventually leading to the creation of the cellars, winery and outbuildings needed for farming. The vines were planted in 2014 and 2015.

Michel sums up the philosophy simply:
“Wine doesn’t just taste of its native land; it reflects the way it has been cultivated. This is not a heritage wine. It is a new wine — shaped by young vines, the Belgian sun, and the flora, fauna and microorganisms in the Bousval soil.”

The vineyard covers a little over five hectares planted mostly to Chardonnay, with Pinot Noir and a small amount of Pinot Gris. Farming has been organic from the beginning and became fully biodynamic by 2022.

Their first small harvest took place in 2016. Production grew from 5,000 bottles in 2018 to around 25,000 in 2020. Organic certification arrived in 2021.

Despite frost, hail and all the unpredictability of Belgian weather, the vineyard is thriving. A once-ignored patch of land has become a dynamic estate making some of the country’s most compelling wines.