Wallonia Wine Region

Travel Guide to Wallonia Wine Region

Where is Wallonia located?

Wallonia occupies the southern half of Belgium and includes the southern half of Brabant, or Walloon Brabant, as well as the provinces of Hainaut, Liege, Namur and Luxembourg. It borders Flanders to the north, France to the south, and Luxembourg and Germany to the east. 

What makes the Wallonia wine region special?

Forests, rivers, wall-enclosed vineyards of Wallonia

The vineyards of the Wallonia wine region are located along extremely unique locations, such as vast rivers and dense forests that provide protection from the cold. It is highly suited for the production of white and sparkling wines due to its chilly temperature. The soil is composed mainly of fertile silty and sandy-silty soils in the north of the region and calcareous silty-stony soils with a higher level of acidity in Condroz, Famenne, and Calestienne parts of Wallonia. 

Gravity, cellar equipment and other unique elements of Wallonian winemaking

The region's passionate winegrowers use the gravity winemaking method and cellar equipment (temperature-controlled vats) in order to gently extract colour, flavour and tannin from the wines. Another unique element of local winemaking is the use of hybrid grape types (Solaris, Bacchus and Helios for white, Regent and Limberger for red wines) in addition to traditional grape species (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Auxerrois, etc.)

What to expect from Wallonia wines?

Wallonia may surprise you by the finely balanced Pinot Noir with its lively palate, aromas of black fruits, candied fruits; Pinot Gris with its rich bouquet and pronounced aromas of dried fruit, wood and spices; fresh and crispy Chardonnay with its peachy creamy notes; and Pinot Auxerrois, a dry and fruity white wine with subtle floral notes. 

Wallonia Wine Region Map

You can also check out our interactive map of the Wallonia Wine Region to discover wineries with open cellar doors.

Wine Appellations of Wallonia Wine Region

The Wallonia wine region is home to three protected names of origin (AOP) and one protected geographical indication (PGI) that are situated within its borders. These sub-regions are:

• Côtes de Sambre et Meuse (AOP) is known for producing excellent rose, white and red wines;

• Crémants de Wallonie  (AOP)  famous for its sparkling wines;

• Vins mousseux de Qualité de Wallonie (AOP) or Wallonia Quality sparkling wines.

• Vin de Pays des Jardins de Wallonie (PGI) local wines.  

Places to Visit in Wallonia Wine Region

Namur - The city which is an embodiment of music in stone

Namur, Wallonia's capital, is known as the "gateway to the Ardennes." This city belongs to the group of sights that are better seen once rather than read or heard a hundred times. If cities could be compared to music, Namur would be the personification of song, although in stone.

The historical part of Namur is located along the Chambre River. There is an incredibly beautiful embankment along which you want to walk in any weather. The embankment offers a magnificent view of the famous Namur Citadel.

Walking through the narrow streets of Namur, you will see the Church of the Virgin Mary, which houses the " Treasure of Hugo von Wagner”, which is one of the seven wonders of Belgium.

Dinant - Romantic town where the saxophone was born

Dinant is located 20 kilometers from the French-Belgian border, in the picturesque valley of the Meuse River. This tiny town turns out to be the birthplace of both the saxophone and the most popular Belgian beer. In fact, the town is a narrow line of houses along the river and a castle on a rock above it. It sounds quite simple, but many people come here precisely because of the landscape: the view of the majestic fortress over the old town with the Gothic cathedral is simply breathtaking. You can photograph all this at any time of the day, it will turn out equally beautiful!

Bastogne - Dive into the atmosphere of the old city

The city of Bastogne is rightfully one of the ten oldest cities in Belgium. It appeared in the Paleolithic period, and its first record dates back to the seventh century. Bastogne, despite its modest size, is a fascinating city. It is well-known for its museums, war memorials, and historic buildings around the country. It is usually pleasant and serene, intriguing and amusing in this small town. 

Natural places to discover in Wallonia

Ardennes - The Hidden Gem of the Belgian Mountains

The Ardennes is a mountain system, which is the main attraction of the region. Beautiful mountains with uncool outlines are covered with evergreen trees, next to them are picturesque valleys streaked with mountain streams. The mountain range, whose name was given by the famous commander Caesar, bears the imprint of the brutal battles of two world wars. 

Unspoiled nature at the Famenne-Ardenne Geopark 

Famenne-Ardenne is the first UNESCO Geopark in Belgium. Discover how beautiful and unique the regions' landscapes are: a fantastic day out with family and friends. It covers 900 km2 and has a diverse range of tourism and scientific attractions, including caves that are unique in Europe and a wealth of biodiversity.

What is Geopark?

It is a location where internationally significant geological heritage is highlighted for both tourism and scope of the study. The site is administered in a sustainable manner, safeguarding the environment and raising public awareness about the importance of preservation.

Plaines de l'Escaut Natural Park - Explore the most popular trails with hand-curated trail maps 

The Natural Park is situated in the south of Picardy Wallonia, near Tournai, Lille, and Mons, in the heart of nature. The Hainaut cross-border natural park is formed by combining the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Natural Park and the Franco-Belgian border. The Scheldt, a European river, enters Belgium's Plains of the Scheldt Natural Park and runs for 15 kilometers. You'll pass through majestic forest stands, hedgerow meadows, and open agricultural landscapes as you explore!

Top-3 food to try in Wallonia

Liège Waffle - Waffles that Inspired Famous Painters

Liege waffles are now one of the most popular dishes and serve as a form of visiting card for the city. Unlike Brussels waffles, which are sometimes simply referred to as Belgian waffles, Liege waffles are drier (but still more luscious than Dutch waffles) and have an oval rather than a square shape. There are particles of frozen caramelized sugar inside the Liege waffles, which are thought to enhance the flavor.

Making waffles has been a tradition in Belgium since the Middle Ages. According to several sources, they were baked in metal waffle irons over the hearth fire or in the ashes of the fireplace. This scene, which is typical of the region, has been depicted on the canvases of artists such as Jeronimo Bosch and Pieter Brueghel.

Boulets sauce lapin à la Liégeoise and the Diamond Meatball Award

It’s a culinary attraction of the city of Liege. Basically, the dish is meat cutlets without rice, made from ground beef or pork with bread soaked in milk and parsley. A special feature of the dish is a sweet and sour sauce made from onions, wine vinegar, raisins, cane sugar, Liege syrup and spices. 

Meatballs in Liege are served everywhere in bars and restaurants in the city of Liege. Potatoes are usually served as a side dish. Many restaurants in the city are proud of the special, branded recipes of their Boulets sauce lapin à la Liègeoise.

The Diamond Meatball Award has been given in Liege since 1996, and it is awarded every year to one restaurant whose meatballs have been recognized as exceptionally successful in Liege.

Lapin à la Tournaisienne - Traditional Lost Monday food

Classic Belgian that is usually cooked on a Lost Monday feast. It’s a holiday that takes place every Monday after Epiphany and is marked by traditional music and games.

The meal includes a whole rabbit sliced into pieces before being slowly cooked with onions, prunes, raisins, and herbs such as thyme and laurel. Although the dish is frequently cooked with black beer nowadays, the original recipe did not, as it was formerly a premium addition reserved mainly for the wealthy.

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