4.3 million litres: Belgian winegrowers have never produced more wine than in 2025. This is largely thanks to the weather, following a difficult 2024. However, the area under vine cultivation and the number of winegrowers are also on the rise. Even so, demand still far outstrips supply.
The previous record year was 2023, when Belgian winemakers produced 3.4 million litres. Last year, Belgium added another 25 per cent to that figure, according to the Belgian Economy Ministry. This was a welcome development for the sector following a rather dramatic slump in 2024: the freezing cold in the spring jeopardised large parts of the grape harvest.
“That can lead to huge variations from year to year,” explains Joyce Van Rennes of Wijnkasteel Genoels-Elderen . “Frost damage, bad weather during flowering, diseases in damp years. Some years we suffer heavy losses, but fortunately things sometimes go well too.”
Despite these fluctuations, the trend is clear: Belgian wine is on the rise. ‘Young vines yield only a limited harvest in their first few years,’ according to the Economy Ministry. ‘It is only after five years that they are mature enough to produce a full harvest.’ In theory, therefore, yields should increase year on year.
There is also an ever-increasing number of winegrowers in Belgium. By 2025, 350 had been registered, including both professionals and hobbyists. Together, they have now planted 1,040 hectares, or more than 10 million square metres. Van Essen herself is impressed by this growth: “35 years ago, there were only a handful of amateurs in Belgium,” she recalls.
Higher production in Wallonia, Flanders more diverse
Most Belgian wine is produced in Wallonia, 2.44 million litres, despite a smaller area under vine cultivation. This is because Walloon winegrowers focus more on sparkling wines: these yield a higher return per hectare (as the vines can also be planted closer together). In Flanders, production is more diverse, with more ‘still wines’ (i.e. not sparkling or semi-sparkling).
By far the most popular grape variety in Belgium is Chardonnay. But there is also a rise in so-called ‘interspecific’ varieties, hybrids such as Johanniter or Souvignier Gris. These are more resistant to diseases and fungi, meaning winegrowers also need to use fewer pesticides.
Slowly but surely, Belgium is carving out its place on the international wine scene. Van Essen: ‘We can produce wonderful wines here. And fortunately, we’re also a nation of wine lovers.’ In other words: demand is high. ‘Belgians can drink what we currently produce in a week. For the rest of the year, we still have to rely on imported wine.’