About us

Our story

The Gloire de Duras wine estate is located in Wilderen (Sint-Truiden), in the heart of the Haspengouw region. I, Peter Nijskens, am a winemaker and full-time fruit grower. The Gloire de Duras wine estate is a true family project. My wife Hilde, my three children Laura, Gert-Jan and Isaline and I are trying to make our wine estate a beautiful place.

MEANING OF GLOIRE DE DURAS

The name ‘Gloire de Duras’ has two meanings. For the first meaning we have to delve into the past, and more precisely the Middle Ages. At that time the village of Wilderen (near Sint-Truiden), where the wine estate lies, was a ‘glory’ or ‘fiefdom’ of Duras. A glory was an old area of administrative governance, whose inhabitants were under the authority of the lord or liege. The term glory translates to ‘gloire’. The vineyards are in Wilderen and Duras, so we chose the name ‘Gloire de Duras’. The second meaning refers to our ambition to make glorious wines.

 

Wine-tasting or tour? We would love to welcome you.

"In the Middle Ages, the village of Wilderen was a ‘glory’ or ‘fiefdom’ of Duras. The term 'glory' translates to 'gloire’. The vineyards are in Wilderen and Duras, so we chose the name ‘Gloire de Duras’. "

Peter Nijskens

In the heart
of Haspengouw

Our wine estate produces white wines and sparkling wines only. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Auxerrois were planted for the first time in 2015. The grapes were first harvested in 2016. Riesling was planted in 2017. One of the Riesling sites is in the old kitchen garden at Duras Castle. It is unique, in that the vines grow in a walled garden. The walled garden has its own micro-climate. In 2019 we extended again by planting Pinot Gris and Auxerrois.

The latter variety is located around the wine-tasting pavilion in our Haspengouw wine estate. At present we have 7 hectares of grapes or some 28 000 vines.

Our vineyards are in Haspengouw, more particularly Wilderen and Duras (Sint-Truiden). A few of the vineyards are in Halle-Booienhoven (Flemish-Brabant).

"The Gloire de Duras wine estate is a true family project. My wife Hilde, my three children Laura, Gert-Jan and Isaline and I are trying to make our wine estate a beautiful place."

Peter Nijskens