Dutch community raises a glass to urban vines
As a high-speed train rattled past, amateur Dutch winemakers were busy gathering the last of the season’s grapes under a warm autumn sun in the heart of The Hague.
Wine is not usually associated with The Netherlands, more known globally for its tulips, clogs and cheese. But a community project has taken off thanks to the passion of one winemaker, Tycho Vermeulen.
Standing among rows of vines hung with slightly bitter, citrusy Johanniter, he proudly recounted the growing success of his “De Haagse Stadswijngaard” (or The Hague Urban Vineyard), which started four years ago in a community garden.
The project brings together amateur growers and local residents for workshops, debates and evenings sipping and tasting the fruits of their labour.
Today there are 650 plants on the 0.1 hectare (quarter acre) of land tended throughout the year by about 40 enthusiasts. Each rent about 10 vines, and receive their share of the wine and leaves.
“I’ve developed this concept (where) people can use their own bit of land and we’ve become a corporation so more people can enjoy and (build) fellowship around this vineyard,” Vermeulen explained. “I give them a course in vine growing and together throughout the year we manage this vineyard and they are responsible for their own 10 plants.”
Bountiful harvest
While the city has plenty of green spaces, it is more known for the vast, wind-swept beaches and the imposing international courts and institutions.
This year’s harvest looks promising, and should allow the cooperative to produce more wine than in 2016, with around 600 liters to delight the tastebuds.
It will include a slightly fruity white from the Johanniter grape, a robust red with tannins from the dark-skinned Rondo variety, and a full-bodied rose from the Souvignier gris.
“Both quantity and quality are good, so I am a very happy winemaker at the moment,” said the smiling 42-year-old Vermeulen, formerly a researcher at Wageningen University, which specialises in healthy food and living environment.
The vineyard’s success is credited to being in the heart of the city where temperatures are always a little higher than the countryside, as well as the choice of weather-resistant grape varieties.
The amateur vintners also show a passion for the plant. And it’s a subject of conversation for them, most of whom have Turkish roots. Thus was born a workshop on preparing sarmas, vine leaves stuffed with mincemeat or rice.
The community has historic ties to grape growing, “with the leaves for the sarmas. Those types of things can connect us,” added Vermeulen. “So we are looking for ways to use that to reach out to this community.”
Standing in his yellow rubber boots, a pair of secateurs in his hand, Pieter Bakens said the vineyard was a great way to meet other wine enthusiasts and a “beautiful multicultural project.”
Even though grape growing is relatively new to The Netherlands, it has already begun to make its mark. According to the national statistics bureau, some 90 growers have planted about 160 hectares (just over 395 acres) with vines. But for Vermeulen, his project is not about making profits.
“What we bring to this city, is an interesting story. We bring it attention, we give it beauty,” he said.“And we hope to deepen the concept.”
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