The festive season is upon us and in our latest Belgium festive drinks article we offer tips on some wonderful wines.
Vineaste
New on the wine scene since 2020, Vineaste is a young company launched by Maxime, Ludovic and Nicolas following their desire to demystify the approach to wine and to modernize it, based on their respective experiences in Horeca. Born from the fusion between ‘wine’ and ‘filmmaker’, Vineaste translates the idea of literally staging wine. The goal of the three friends is not only to offer wine, but also and above all to share the history and know-how behind it. It’s all about a personalized box according to your tastes. Vineaste works with you and helps you discover which oenological profile suits you best – through a few short questions. Whether you are more into a chubby or beefy red wine, dry or buttery white wine, this young start-up identifies your preferences to create a ‘Discowinery box’ with little ‘grapes’. It is also possible to opt for the Discowinery box express, to let yourself be surprised by the sommelier’s selection. Wines imported directly from passionate producers. Vineaste only work with winegrowers with whom they have abreal human relationship and exchanges with the same passion for wine.
www.vineaste.com
Taittinger: A family story…
It is not by chance that Vitalie Taittinger is at the head of the company today. Founded in 1734 and after years of development which allowed Taittinger to consolidate its reputation and identity, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger handed it over the reins to his daughter. The Counts of Champagne Taittinger are the flower of the House’s champagnes. Much more than just bottles of bubbles, these special cuvées are the expression of all the expertise and style of Maison Taittinger. Born from the symbiosis between a sunny spring and a rainy summer, the 2011 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs reveals notes of gingerbread and liquorice, and delicate fruit aromas such as vine peach. Generous, suave and slightly iodized, it is the perfect accompaniment to a starter based on seafood, shellfish or fish. For a change, the Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2008 is the ideal choice. With its brilliant, salmon-pink colour, it is delicious on the nose and reveals aromas of raspberry and black cherry. It will go perfectly with white meats, but will also go very well with lobster to stay in the spirit of the holidays.
www.taittinger.com
Bernard-Massard: Cuvée 1921
A family business for five generations, the company’s vocation has been to create wines of impeccable quality, while respecting traditions and constantly opening up to social, environmental and qualitative progress. Our teams work every day in the vineyards and cellars with a single aim: to offer to our clients a moment of pleasure. In 2021, Bernard-Massard celebrates its 100th anniversary and launches the Cuvée 1921 – Crémant de Luxembourg for this occasion. The illustrations on the label pay tribute to the history of the brand since its creation. Created to celebrate a century of Bernard-Massard, the Prestige 100-year – Crémant de Luxembourg – is a limited edition mantled in an exclusive one-bottle box. Bernard-Massard’s notoriety extends far beyond its small borders. As fervent ambassadors of its country abroad, they export their wines to more than 20 countries, with a presence in Belgium since its foundation, and also in many other markets such as Finland, Canada and Great Britain, to name but a few. The many awards received in international competitions all testify to the quality of Bernard-Massard’s products.
www.bernard-massard.lu
And here’s an excellent Irish whisky we came across…
Teeling Whiskey
Descendant of Walter Teeling, famous whiskey producer in the 18th century, Jack and Stephen Teeling, proudly opened their new distillery in 2015. The Teeling Whiskey Distillery and today a young distillery, established in Dublin for more than 125 years. Teeling is renowned for its vision and its habit of shifting the lines. The whiskeys incorporate this character trait of the house. The delicate base of Irish Whiskey is the canvas on which flavour and character are added. Variations in maturation time, style and number of barrels used add to the subtlety and complexity of the flavours. In this case the Teeling Small Batch blend is made from the blend of malt and grain whiskeys, with a finish in ex-Nicaraguan rum casks.
www.teelingwhiskey.com
