Gelderland

Overview

Gelderland is the Netherlands' largest province and one of its two biggest wine regions, with vineyards spreading through the Betuwe, the Achterhoek, and the hills around Arnhem and Nijmegen. The Betuwe has long been the country's fruit garden, and many growers now alternate apple and cherry orchards with rows of hybrid vines on the fertile river terraces.

The landscape ranges from the sandy forests of the Veluwe to the clay and loam lowlands of the Rhine, Waal, and IJssel rivers. Winemakers here favor reliable, early-ripening hybrids and often experiment alongside strawberry and berry plots, reflecting Gelderland's deep agricultural roots.

Key Varietals

• JohanniterA mildew-resistant white hybrid that produces elegant, aromatic wines for still and sparkling styles.
• Cabernet CortisA red hybrid that colors well and ripens early, giving light, fresh reds in Gelderland's cooler sites.
• ChardonnayA classic cool-climate white planted on the warmest, best-drained river slopes for restrained, mineral wines.
• StrawberryThe Betuwe's famous strawberries are fermented into fragrant, lightly sweet berry wines that capture the region's orchard character.