In 2013, Josje and Arno Claessens revived the wine tradition on the Raarberg in the hamlet of Raar.
The winery is continuously being expanded and the vines are now also growing on the Lange Raarberg, Kruisdonk in Maastricht and Albig in Rheinhessen (D).
When the Romans built some villas on the Via Belgica in Meerssen, the gateway to the Mergelland, they also introduced viticulture on the fertile hills around Meerssen, such as the Wijngaardsberg and the Raarberg.
The fact is that the first written record of Meerssen vineyards dates from 968 through an earlier inventory of a deed in which Queen Gerberga of Saxony bestowed the Heerlijckheid Meerssen to the monks of Saint-Remi from Reims.
These French monks founded a Deanery in Meerssen around 1126 and cultivated the vineyards according to French standards.
For example, Josje and Arno Claessens have given the wine the name Raar-Saint-Remi as a tribute to the monks of Saint-Remi and their (wine) relationship with Meerssen.
The wines are made from the grape varieties Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Regent, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. Meanwhile, a Method Porto and a Method Traditionelle are also being made.
For the Porto Method, a brandy is used, which is made from apple cider also called Calvados. The apple cider is made at the winery, after which Mworveld Distillery in the Meerssen hamlet of Moorveld, distills a Calvados from it.
A new vineyard has now been purchased in Meerssen, on the Lange Raarberg, and in Kruisdonk Maastricht, next to the new culinary oasis of Toine Hermsen, a vineyard has been planted with the Champagne varieties Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay to create a Methode Traditionelle. to make.
