Un-Dutchly good wines (but still from South Limburg)
Sometimes, all it takes is a two-and-a-half-hour drive to feel completely on holiday. From Amsterdam West, with a little luck on the roads, we head south towards Limburg. The moment the rolling hills appear and the first cyclists come flying elegantly down those hillsides, you instantly feel it: This is holiday mode. Welcome to that wonderfully Burgundian corner of the Netherlands. A place that somehow feels remarkably un-Dutch.
Rolling Hills and Growing Curiosity
For years, we've regularly travelled to South Limburg. At first, mostly for sporting reasons. On our road bikes. Together we would climb hill after hill, making our way through picturesque landscapes. Well, to be completely honest, I was usually the one struggling to keep up, while Manuel seemed to float effortlessly upwards. And it wasn't just cycling. Manuel also used the hills as training terrain for trail running. Uphill, downhill, running through the landscape. Why not?
In recent years, however, those hills gained an extra layer of glamour: endless rows of vineyards. And with that came curiosity. Our interest in wine grew steadily over the years. For me, partly because spending hours on a bicycle became slightly less appealing. Let's call it an elegant shift in hobbies. Add to that the enormous progress Dutch winemaking has made in recent years through innovation, expertise and dedication, and it's easy to see why we eventually found ourselves visiting wineries in this beautiful corner of the country. And more specifically, our favourite winery of them all:
Wijndomein St. Martinus in Vijlen
To be honest, we'd never been particularly impressed by the, admittedly limited, selection of Dutch wines available in the past. Especially when it came to red wines.A Dutch red wine that genuinely excited us? We simply hadn't found one.Until we visited St. Martinus. Founded in 1986, the estate is known as the first commercial producer of red wine in the Netherlands. The first time we tasted one of their reds, we looked at each other and said: "Wait a minute... this is Dutch wine?" It felt almost impossible. It felt un-Dutch. And the best part? They don't just make red wines.
Today, this family-owned winery in Vijlen, the highest village in the Netherlands, produces an entire portfolio of wines: white, red, rosé and sparkling. Visiting the estate already feels like a mini holiday. The views alone are worth the trip. The winery combines innovation, sustainability and authenticity in a way we absolutely love. A warm welcome, great advice, beautiful wines and, in my case, that lovely Limburg accent that wins me over before the first sip has even been poured.
We've also joined one of their vineyard and winery tours during previous visits, which only reinforced our admiration for the estate. You'll find energy-efficient wine cellars, creative reuse of materials to reduce waste, and modern disease-resistant grape varieties that support both sustainability and quality. They've thought of everything.
The Magic of Vijlen (And Why We Keep Bringing People There)
By now, St. Martinus has become a permanent stop whenever we're in South Limburg.
Initially, we just stopped by for a tasting. Then we started bringing friends and family. These days it's reached the point where a colleague only has to whisper the words "South Limburg" and we're already responding: "You absolutely have to visit St. Martinus!" We enthusiastically send recommendations, links and travel tips, whether people asked for them or not. Because it perfectly combines everything we love. Sportive hills. Burgundian hospitality. And relaxing afterwards with a glass of high-quality wine that tells a story about place, people and craftsmanship.
St. Martinus proves that Dutch wine is much more than a novelty. It's serious quality. And with every visit, the range continues to grow and evolve. Each trip becomes an invitation to return. With more friends. More stories. And perhaps, occasionally, the road bike as well. For the moments in between, when you're not in South Limburg, you can now enjoy these wines through our website. We're bringing a little piece of Limburg magic to Amsterdam.
St. Martinus Wines at Wijnatelier Amsterdam
You'll probably understand why we're so pleased to share this news. We're proud to introduce a first selection of St. Martinus wines to the Wijnatelier Amsterdam collection. Naturally, that includes a red wine. How could it not? The kind of wine that makes you say: "This is surprisingly, almost unbelievably good for a Dutch red." Alongside it, we've selected a beautiful white wine with a subtle connection to South Africa: Ubuntu. A wine whose story and character fit perfectly with what we love to share. We'll tell you more about that one very soon. For now, if you're curious to discover why we're so enthusiastic, the wines are available to order from our collection. And trust us: This is one discovery you'll want to make for yourself.