Domaine du Chant d'Eole takes part in Osaka Expo and hopes to export to Japan

Domaine du Chant d'Eole bubbles can be tasted in the Belgian pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. A first step for the Walloon company, which is keen to export to the land of the rising sun.

For the past 10 years, Chant d'Eole, located in Quévy-le-Grand near Mons, has been producing quality sparkling wines. This Walloon vineyard has already won numerous medals at international competitions. And for 6 months, Chant d'Eole bubbles will be on display in the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.

“Initially, this was a land of farmers. One day, they were approached by a man from Champagne who was looking for land very similar in terms of soil quality to what was already being done in Champagne. He contacted the family who owned the land and offered to buy it. After some thought, they decided: “We don't know anything about wine, but we'll keep the land and work together. So they went for it,” says Amélie Wuillaume, Communication & Marketing Manager at Domaine du Chant d'Eole.

Today, Domaine du Chant d'Eole offers three lines of business. “The vineyard remains our main activity. But we've added two new areas of activity: gastronomy, since we now have two restaurants, and events, which include a program of activities for the general public, concerts and shows, as well as the rental of our halls for private events”, explains our contact.

Domaine du Chant d'Eole uses the champagne method to create its bubbles, and offers three cuvées: brut blanc de blanc, brut rosé and cuvée Réserve millésimée. Le Chant d'Eole's sparkling wines are a great success, to say the least. For private customers, it is not possible to buy more than one or two bottles on site or from a wine merchant. If you want more bottles, you have to join a waiting list with a two- to three-year lead time. A few months ago, the winemaker planted his last vines. With 54 hectares, Chant d'Eole is the largest vineyard in Belgium. Within three years, the vineyard will be able to double its production from 300,000 to 600,000 bottles a year. And this has given the company ideas for international expansion, particularly in Norway and Japan.

“We'd like to slowly expand internationally. Our two target markets are Norway and Japan, because these are countries that have a love of traditional products and appreciate good food. So these are relevant markets for us. When we heard about the World Expo in Osaka, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a name for ourselves there. So we became a sponsor of the Belgian pavilion, which means that our wines are served there for six months at cocktail parties and official receptions, as well as in the Belgian pavilion restaurants”, concludes Amélie Wuillaume.

Isabelle Anneet (AWEX)