On 23 and 24 November 2024, natural wine enthusiasts gathered at LaVallée in Brussels for tastings, talks, and dancing. The two day festival featured independent makers of cider, wine, champagne, spirits, and more from all over Europe, including Belgium, France, Georgia, and Hungary. As a celebration, the event hosted a live performance and DJ set from Magma Collective’s Borokov Borokov and DJ Margo. Matching the avant-garde vibe of Grrrabuge, Borokov Borokov’s energetic set worked well with the trendy crowd.
Grrrabuge’s environmental stance
While Grrrabuge featured over 50 presenters, they remained committed to maintaining harmony with the environmental by making sure each participant uses sustainable cultivation practices.
Our mission is clear: we want to make people aware that a quality wine is one that respects our earth and those who work it. The mornings are reserved for those who work in the wine and hospitality industry. In the afternoon, we open the doors to the general public. – Grrrabuge in Het Nieuwsblad
The way Grrrabuge expressed their values is through the talks which occurred on both days. Journalists and business owners came together to discuss latest trends in independent brewing and vinifcation.
A personal connection to natural wine
Grrrabuge is formed by Athena, Clémentine, Cyril, Hadrien, Jérôme and Sylvain. With this, there’s a shared love for natural wines. Athena speaks to this. “My first sip of natural wine gave me the emotion that I had never been able to feel in art…they taste like real wine, that of fermented grape juice!” This inspired her to become more involved, which is similar to the other co-founders. More on this can be found in Kuisine. With events like Grrrabuge, the recently emerged natural wine industry is slowly seeping into the mainstream.
