Every year, during the grape harvest season, all Sofitel group hotels around the world put wine and the French “art of living” in the spotlight.
During this period, Sofitel Brussels Europe,at the heart of the EU Quarter in Brussels, hosts a series of “Wine Days” events. It is an opportunity to discover the gastronomy of the hotel’s restaurant combined with a fine selection of wines.
For the second consecutive year, the Sofitel Wine Days are hailed as “100% Belgian” on account of the cuisine and wines being showcased.
From September to the end of October, the wines of the Chenoy wine estate, near Namur, will be in the spotlight and several “wine days” events have been organized around the theme of harvest, wine and food.
The public are invited to one such Wine Day event which takes place at 7pm on October 12 at the hotel’s “The 1040” brasserie. Consultant chef Jean-Philippe Watteyne and executive chef Gabriele Petrucci promise to provide “a unique menu” alongside selected wines the Chenoy estate.
Both, along with Pierre-Marie Despatures, will be present to guide guests through the gastronomic menu and explain the history of the wine estate.
The menu consists of the following: tartlet with butternut puree, pan-fried section of turbot and hazelnut (starter), roast duck fillet (mains) and lavender meringue sphere, plum salad and pine nut ice cream(desert).
Reservation is necessary (prices are either €57 or €67) and it is important to notify the resto of any allergies at the time of booking. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s terrace/bar,located on the 7th floor and which has just been completely renovated.
Two other “wine day” events (invitation only) take place at the same venue on September 20 and September 28.
Watteyne, the chef of “The 1040”, says he is an unconditional lover of Belgian local products which he revisits with art and creativity.
The Domaine du Chenoy (https://www.domaine-du-chenoy.com/) was selected with the complicity of the Belgian concept and label “Le vin des Femmes” (www.levindesfemmes.com) created by Muriel Lombaerts.
Located in Emines, in the province of Namur, the Chenoy estate was initially acquired by Philippe Grafé in 2002 and includes 11 hectares of shallow clay loam soils and rocky subsoils where banks of limestone, sandstone and shale alternate which are perfectly suited to the cultivation of vines.
Year after year, new plantations of various grape varieties developed and were selected especially for cultivation.
In 2014, Fabrice and Emmanuel Wuyts joined the adventure and brought, alongside their passion for good wine, new capital allowing in particular investment initiating the transition to organic certification from 2016.
In 2017, Pierre-Marie and Jean-Bernard Despatures, both trained bio-engineers, completed the management team and continued the development of the vineyard by strengthening the founding pillars of the estate wanting to promote the emphasis on “original”, “organic” and local”.
Jean-Bernard Despatures moved to France with his family in the Bordeaux region in the early 2000s. He completed all his wine classes there and held the position of Director of Châteaux Anthonic and Dutruch Grand Poujeaux (communal appellation Moulis-en-Médoc) . This position allowed him to meet Eric Boissenot, a recognized oenologist and specialist.
A wine from the Chenoy estate is above all:
- an original wine by the simple fact of cultivating vines in Belgium but also by the pioneering position of the Domaine du Chenoy in the use of grape varieties resistant to vine diseases,
- a local wine by favoring marketing in short circuits,
- an organic and authentic wine by producing local wines that respect the environment.
Today, the Chenoy estate covers 14 hectares and is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
· Further info via: https://www.sofitel-brussels-europe.com/en/restaurant-bar/the1040/
