Belgian winegrowers have introduced a new quality label for sparkling wines produced entirely on Belgian soil. BelBul guarantees that each bottle is 100 per cent Belgian and crafted using the traditional method of sparkling wine production.
The initiative comes from the non-profit Belgian Winegrowers – Flanders and the Association des Vignerons Belges – Wallonie, which together represent the majority of wine producers in the country. With this label, the organisations aim to professionalise and promote Belgium’s growing wine sector, particularly its sparkling wine, which is primarily produced in the province of Hainaut.
To qualify for the BelBul label, winegrowers must meet several strict criteria. The entire production process—from vine to bottle—must take place in Belgium, using grapes cultivated locally. In addition, producers must operate under a recognised designation of origin, apply the traditional method of fermentation in the bottle and be affiliated with one of the two founding associations.
The launch of BelBul comes at a time of growing international recognition for Belgian wine. Last week, the prestigious French wine magazine La Revue du vin de France featured Belgian wine on its cover for the first time. The headline read, “Belgium, the birth of a wine country.” Inside, the magazine dedicated eight pages to Belgian wines, with 44 bottles highlighted, including La Falize, a Chardonnay from the Namur region, toasted as the best among them.
