Don't ask for cava, ask for BelBul at the restaurant

Published 19 August 2025
Het Nieuwsblad - 14 august 2025

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“When someone asks for a glass of cava, it makes us cringe.”
That is why three Limburg winegrowers joined forces with colleagues from all over Belgium to launch BelBul, a new quality label for Belgian sparkling wines.

“We should be a little more proud of our own products,” says Joyce van Rennes (Château Genoels-Elderen). “Our sparkling wines easily measure up to the big international names.”

The BelBul label is a guarantee of quality: only wines made by the traditional method, with a second fermentation in the bottle, are eligible. Each cuvée must also pass a blind tasting by an independent panel of winemakers and sommeliers.

“Flanders and Wallonia pulling together is essential,” adds Yves Cuvelier (Cuvelier Estate). “Even together we are a small wine region, but BelBul gives us a clear identity.”

Karel Henckens (Aldeneyck Estate) concludes: “Freshness and minerality are our hallmark. We don’t want to imitate champagne – we want to showcase the unique Belgian style.”