8x vineyards in the Netherlands

The Apostelhoeve is not only the best-known and oldest, but also one of the largest vineyards in the Netherlands. You cycle there in 15 minutes from the city of Maastricht. Once you arrive at the top of Louwberg, you look out over the rolling hills, which are full of loess, marl and gravel. These are key soil types that have contributed to several of the vineyard's award-winning wines.

A total of five different grape varieties can be found on 20 hectares of land at De Apostelhoeve. With this, they produce six dry white wines and two sparkling wines. Book a 1.5-hour tour that takes you through the vineyard, press house and wine cellars, followed by a tasting in one of their tasting rooms.

* The tour is for 12 people or more. Are there fewer of you? Then you can also do a guided tour, but then you pay a minimum amount of €270.

From the south, we go north. There, Wijngaard de Frysling flaunts itself as one of the northernmost vineyards in the Netherlands. The name 'Frysling' is a fusion of Fryslân and Riesling, the queen of grapes in Germany.

Owners Jantiene and Douwe are happy to invite you for a tour and tasting every Saturday afternoon from July onwards. Stroll through the vineyard and discover how six different grape varieties are turned into white and rosé wines that have already won awards. Wijngaard de Frysling has no fewer than eight awards to their name, including best sparkling wine of 2023. Tsjoch! (Cheers in Frisian)

Looking for an idyllic wine tasting in beautiful surroundings? Wijnhoeve de Colonjes in Groesbeek offers just that. From the terrace you have a wide view over the organic vineyards, which stretch over 13 hectares, making them the largest in the Netherlands. Since 2001, this vineyard has developed into a top wine producer, known for their white, red, rosé and sparkling wines. During your visit, you can enjoy a tasting of three Groesbeek wines, while learning more about the rich loess soils full of pure flavours and minerals.

What makes Wijnhoeve de Colonjes extra special is their social mission. They strive to increase social opportunities for people for whom paid work is not self-evident. Everyone is welcome to follow an apprenticeship programme here.

In the southern Limburg village of Holset, part of the municipality of Vaals, lies Domein Holset. This vineyard conjures up images of a romantic film scene. From the terrace, you look out over the Limburg hilly landscape, especially at sunrise and sunset. It is a true foreign experience in your own country.

The grapes are picked from mid-September to the end of October, with an enthusiastic group of volunteers helping with maintenance. Each grapevine yields about one bottle of wine, representing an impressive harvest with 12 hectares of land.

Highly recommended: book a wine tasting with an overnight stay. The B&B offers seven unique themed rooms, two spacious studios and a holiday cottage, all equally tastefully decorated with the vineyard as backyard. Honeyguide Laura stayed here before and wrote an extensive blog about it. Curious? You can read it here.

In green Amstelland, on the outskirts of Amstelveen, lies Wijngaard de Amsteltuin. Proud owners Annelies and Douwe decided in 2019 that it was time to swap office life for a vineyard. And that has certainly been a good choice if you ask me. Indeed, the Amsteltuin offers a truly unique experience, such as picnicking among the vines during a high wine from May to September on weekends. In summer, you can also enjoy a pop-up lunch restaurant with fruit de mer.

Vineyard de Amsteltuin is not only a place for wine lovers, but also for people with a cognitive disability who find a daytime activity here. The Amsteltuin is affiliated with Landzijde, an umbrella organisation of over a hundred care farms in North Holland. This is something we love at Honeyguide: companies that are committed to making a positive social impact.

In the southernmost tip of our little country, in the picturesque mountain village of Vijlen, lies Wijngaard St. Martinus. This vineyard, founded in 1986 by Stan and Nienke, was one of the first vineyards to make red wine in the Netherlands.

Sustainability is of paramount importance here. No pesticides are used and much attention is paid to saving energy. Weeds are left alone and fallen grapes are left as food for animals and insects. Each vine has only one branch with a maximum of two bunches of grapes, so all the nutrients get into the grapes for a flavourful wine. Curious about the taste of the wines from Vineyard St. Martinus? Then I definitely recommend booking a tour with tasting.

Wijngoed Wolf is an organic vineyard in Sint-Michielsgestel, located on an ancient convex field on historical grounds of the Meierij of 's-Hertogenbosch. On about 5.5 hectares, Wijngoed Wolf produces natural, pure wines without additives. The southern location and humus-, loam- and sand-rich soil make this an excellent place for viticulture.

Since 2016, owners Laura and Bas have been working hard to produce the tastiest wines in a natural, biodynamic way. The earth is left alone as much as possible to preserve the soil structure, and unwanted herbs are weeded by hand. No additives are used in making the wine, resulting in the most natural wine possible.

Tip: stay a little longer and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. Wijngoed Wolf has converted the former stable into a luxurious guest room where you can spend the night.

One we should not forget in this list of vineyards in the Netherlands is Wijngaard de Plack in Groesbeek. This vineyard produces in an eco-friendly way, with manual harvesting and a strong focus on sustainability. They use organic fertilisers and minimise the use of plant protection products. Take a walk along the Wine Trail through the vineyard and learn all about the winemaking process and the history of this beautiful place.

The estate has been family-owned since 1854. Owners John and Virginie will be happy to tell you all about it during a wine tasting. Take a seat on the terrace adjacent to the regional shop and taste for yourself the wines from their own loess soil, a soil of a mixture of clay and sand.