Vijlen BOB covers 419 hectares in the Vijlen district of Vaals. Modern vineyards emerged here in the 1980s. In 1986, a trial vineyard tested about 40 red varieties, and its first red wine was bottled in 1990.
The vineyards sit on sheltered southern slopes, 170 to 220 metres above Amsterdam Ordnance Datum. The climate is less influenced by the sea and more continental. Mist is less common in September and October, bringing lower humidity and fewer botrytis problems. Flint-slope soils combine loess, terra fusca, rough shingle, flint eluvium and gravel, rather than the old Maas deposits associated with Mergelland. Flint holds heat through the growing season, while loess retains moisture.
Vijlen BOB permits red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Its reds are deeply coloured and full-bodied, with red and black fruit and a slight spice note. Dry whites combine green and ripe fruit aromas with fresh structure. Permitted varieties include Pinot Noir, Pinotin and Cabernet Cortis for reds, and Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Muscaris and Souvignier Gris for whites.
Inside the region
1 named area
Each guide keeps its place within Vijlen clear, with a direct route back to the map.