Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Wijnfaktorij is celebrating its 10th anniversary by ageing three wine barrels (225 litres each) in Antwerp’s historic Het Steen cellars. This will produce 900 bottles. A special wine with a Het Steen and ship-themed label will launch during the 2025 Tall Ships Races.
Wijnfaktorij is a wine producer celebrating its 10th anniversary. To mark this occasion, they have decided to develop three wine barrels in the ancient Het Steen cellars in Antwerp. The city is allowing access to these historic cellars, which are some of the city’s oldest parts. The project starts this month in January 2025.
Each barrel holds 225 litres of wine. Together, these barrels will produce 900 bottles after the ageing process. According to authorities, it also connects the wine to the history of the city. Wijnfaktorij is combining craftsmanship with heritage in their winemaking by choosing this famous location.
What are the reasons behind Wintaktori’s wine ageing project at Het Steen?
Patrick Nijs from Wijnfaktorij talked about why they started this project. He said they have been developing wine in the centre of Antwerp for ten years. For their anniversary, they wanted to do something unique. He mentioned that since they already sell their wine at Het Steen, using its historic cellars seemed like a good idea. This choice connects Wijnfaktorij’s story to the city of Antwerp.
“We have been around for 10 years now and we mature our wine in the centre of Antwerp,”
says Patrick Nijs of Wijnfaktorij.
Koen Kennis, who is in charge of tourism, talked about how special this partnership is. He said, “It is a more than unique wine cellar.” He also pointed out that Antwerp has a long history with wine and has been involved in a lively wine trade for many years. He said by allowing Wijnfaktorij to age their wine in this famous location, the city is not just helping a local business.
“It is a more than unique wine cellar,”
says Alderman for Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA).
“Historically, Antwerp has always been a wine city.”
According to Kennis, the city’s history can still be seen in its streets. For example, streets near the Grote Markt, like Winstraat and Wingaardstraat, have names that relate to the wine trade. In the harbor area, there is also a street called Wijnweg, which means Wine Road.
Kennis mentioned that this street reminds people of how important Antwerp was for wine trading in the Middle Ages. By combining these historical connections with a new project for ageing wine, the work at Het Steen links the past to the present.
Patrick Nijs from Wijnfaktorij talked about the conditions in the cellars of Het Steen for ageing wine. He mentioned that a cellar provides a stable environment with the right humidity and temperature. This is one reason why they chose this historic location.
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To make the most of this opportunity, Wijnfaktorij selected a special wine for ageing. They want it to be a standout product in their collection. They mentioned that the barrels used for ageing are also important because they add flavour to the wine.
“A cellar is always a stable environment with ideal humidity and temperature,”
says Nijs.
“We also chose a special wine to mature there. So it will be an outsider. The barrels also give their accent to the taste.”
According to Nijs, the project is moving forward, and all the steps will be done by the end of next February. When the cellar is ready, the barrels will start ageing the wine. By 2026, the wine will be ready to bottle, just in time for the Tall Ships Races in Antwerp. He said that this big maritime event would be a great chance to launch a special themed wine.
Nijs mentioned that the wine’s label will show references to Het Steen and a ship. This will link the wine to the historic cellars and the maritime history of Antwerp.
“At that time, the Tall Ships Races will also dock in Antwerp. Then we can make a theme wine,”
says Nijs.
