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What and who is GeoVino?

The connection between geography and wine:

The core of GeoVino is exploring and explaining the influence of geographical factors on wine. The name itself (“Geo” + “Vino”) emphasizes this focus. An important aspect of this is how terroir—the combination of soil, climate, location, and human factors—shapes the characteristics of a wine.

Detailed knowledge about wine regions/appellations:

GeoVino offers in-depth information about specific wine regions (appellations). This often includes:

  • Descriptions of the geography (location, altitude, slopes).
  • Information about soil types and geology.
  • Details about the specific climate of the region.
  • The permitted grape varieties and typical wine styles.
  • Often supported by visual maps (“Wine Maps”) that illustrate the regions and their characteristics.

GeoVino is the wine project of Rudi D'Hauwers and Ann Viaene

We are both scientists by training: Rudi is a geographer and particularly interested in ‘terroir and climate’. Ann has a PhD in biotechnology and is particularly interested in the ‘wine-making process’. It all started 35 years ago on one of our first trips together through beautiful Corsica, where we were impressed by the magnificent AOC Muscat de Cap Corse and many other wine regions. Since then, one or more wine tastings have always been part of our many trips (around the world).

We have made more than 30 multi-day wine trips since 1995: southern Burgundy, Beaujolais, Champagne, Burgundy, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Bergerac, Toro, Ribeira del Duero, Southern California, Southern Rhone, Faugères, Cornas, Ahr, Rheingau, Savoie, Wachau, Northern Rhône, Melbourne, Sydney, Portugal, Cape Town, etc.

Since 2001, we have been intensively ‘tasting’ wine as members and later wine masters of the Au Medoc friends' club in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, now Commanderij Livinus, and since 2004 as board members of Osiris wine commandery Ghent (until 2015). We have been masters of the Flemish wine guild since 2007. We are both enthusiasts of olfactory experiments: combinations of wine and food.

In September 2005, Rudi was inducted as “Vigneron d'honneur” of Saint-Emilion during the Jurade de Saint-Emilion.

Since 2015, Rudi has also been “Commandeur” at the Baronie Gent of the Commanderie des Costes du Rhône. This Commanderie brings together individual wine producers from 173 different villages and 18 appellations that fall under this region. The headquarters of the Commanderie is located in the castle of Suze-la-Rousse. The Commanderie promotes its international image by establishing Baronies, as it has already done in Switzerland, Germany, the United States, Canada, and Liège. On February 21, 2004, a Barony was also established in Ghent and the founding chapter took place. Naturally, Rudi knows the wines of the Northern and especially the Southern Rhône like no other.

In recent years, Rudi has also attended various masterclasses on various wine themes and taken several short courses at the Flemish Wine University, WSET, Wine Scholar Guild, etc.