Cantillon Vigneronne

Cantillon Vigneronne

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Description

Cantillon Vigneronne is a grape lambic produced yearly from Italian white grapes, most often of the organic Muscat varietal, though it depends on the harvest. Vigneronne is generally bottled sometime between mid-October and late-November. Though the brewery states that it is only available in 750 mL bottles, Vigneronne was also available in 375 mL bottles throughout the 1990s and again once in 2005. The fruiting process for Vigneronne consists of taking fresh grapes and placing them whole (without stems) into stainless steel tanks with 2 to 3-year-old lambic for a maceration period of 1-2 months. It is then transferred to a stainless steel bottling tank until it is ready to be bottled. In 2019, the varietal was changed to an organic Viognier.

History / Other Notes

On Cantillon's official website, the brewery states that "the name Vigneronne Cantillon was given in 1987" with a bottling presumably produced in 1989, though its history dates back much further than that. Jean-Pierre Van Roy first experimented with a white grape lambic in 1973, as well as a bottled version known as Cuvée Neuf Nations in 1987 with lambic brewed in 1985. The label design for both the imported U.S version and the European version of Vigneronne remaining relatively unchanged since its creation by artist Raymond Goffin in 1989.

This beer was previously named Gueuze Vigneronne; however, the word Gueuze was eventually dropped as it is not a blend of 1, 2, and 3-year-old lambics.

In September of 2019 the brewery posted to Facebook that they would be changing the grape varietal from the Muscat varietal to Viognier grapes stating that "because the Muscat grapes used for the Vigneronne were not organic, we decided to move to an organic producer and to use wine grapes instead of table grapes. After some research we couldn't find organic Muscat, but we did find organic Viognier grapes."

The resulting blends also carry a new label featured below.

Up to 2024 the Viognier grapes were sourced from the négoce of Domaine de Vantajou in the Minervois area (south of France), but from 2025 on the brewery started sourcing from winemaker Johan Tête in Eclassan, located in the northern part of the Ardèche region (sout-east of France, about an hour south of Lyon), who also started providing the grapes for Saint Lamvinus.

There was no Vigneronne produced in 2022. According to Jean Van Roy: “The transporter who was supposed to drive from the winemaker's premises to the regional depot (less than 100 km) canceled the day before the harvest. By the time another transporter was found, the harvest was over. However, thanks to the unused bins for the Viognier grapes, they were filled with Grenache Noir and Syrah for the new Saint-Lamvinus.”

In 2025, Vigneronne will also include 30% Chenin Blanc from the Loire region (west of France) because of decrepencies during harvest and communication errors on the producer's side. Indeed, the brewery was originally told at the last minute that there wouldn't be enough Viognier to provide for them, so they looked around for organic Viognier but couldn't find any on short notice, and they placed an order or Chenin Blanc instead. They were then told during harvest that finally, the order could be honored, but since they couldn't cancel the whole delivery of Chenin Blanc out of respect for the producer, they only reduced it, resulting in that special blend.

Brewer's Star from Original Label

The six point brewer's star displayed on the label, which is identical to the Jewish Star of David, actually has its roots in alchemy. It represents the balance between fire, air, water, and earth. The Museum and Beer and Brewing explains the balance as such:

These elements include Fire, the masculine element of action and determination, portrayed by a triangle facing the heavens. The masculine element of air which deals with communication and intelligence is also a triangle, facing upward, but with a horizontal line symbolizing the clouds at the top of the mountain.

These two elements are ascending and are governed by the principal of levity. The feminine element of water is represented by a triangle facing the earth - like the rivers that flow to the lowest grounds. Earth is the other feminine element that is represented by a triangle pointing down with a horizontal line representing the surface of the earth. These two elements are ruled by the principal of gravity. Combined these four elements represent the Great Work in alchemy, which means harmony balance and peace.

The Brewer's Star, displayed at the Schaerbeek Museum of Beer:

Bottle Log

Bottle Log

Bottle date (mm/dd/yyyy)	Cork Date	Bottle Size	Label / Notes	Image Link
N/A	1992	750 mL	N/A	N/A
N/A	1996	375 mL		N/A
N/A	1996	750 mL	Cuvée Akkurat	N/A
N/A	1998	750 mL		N/A
N/A	1999	375 mL		N/A
N/A	1999	750 mL	No writing on front label beyond Vigneronne and bottle size.	N/A
N/A	2002	750 mL	Heavy black foil over the cap	N/A
N/A	2004	750 mL	Heavy black foil over the cap, made with Chasselas grapes	N/A
N/A	2005	375 mL	Sold in Denmark	N/A
N/A	2005	750 mL	Best by 12/2009	N/A
10/30/2006	2006	750 mL		N/A
N/A	2007	750 mL		N/A
12/24/2008	2008	750 mL		N/A
11/05/2009	2009	750 mL		N/A
09/29/2010	2010	750 mL		N/A
11/22/2010	2010	750 mL		N/A
11/24/2011	2011	750 mL		N/A
11/28/2011	2011	750 mL		N/A
11/30/2011	2011	750 mL		N/A
11/23/2012	2012	750 mL		N/A
10/22/2013	2013	750 mL		N/A
10/29/2014	2014	750 mL	European labeling	N/A
11/09/2015	2015	750 mL	Shelton Brothers rear label from early 2000s, but 2015 date stamp
11/12/2015	2015	750 mL	European labeling
10/25/2016	2016	750 mL
09/08/2017	Season 17/18	750 mL
10/22/2017	Season 17/18	750 mL
10/22/2017	Season 17/18	750 mL	Shelton Brothers rear label from early 2000s, but 2017 date stamp
11/22/2017	Season 18/19	750 mL
10/12/2018	Season 18/19	750 mL	European labeling
10/15/2018	Season 18/19	750 mL	European labeling
10/10/2019	Season 19/20	750 mL	New (European) label, first batch with Viognier grapes
10/17/2019	Season 19/20	750 mL	New label / first batch with Viognier grapes
10/12/2020	Season 20/21	750 mL	Viognier grapes
10/14/2020	Season 20/21	750 mL	Viognier grapes
10/11/2021	Season 21/22	750 mL	Viognier grapes
10/11/2023	Season 23/24	750 mL	Viognier grapes
09/30/2024	2024	750 mL	Viognier grapes

Label

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  Label used from 2019 onward using Viognier grapes
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  U.S. label approval application, 2001

Label Text (European):
A fine compromise between wine and beer, this is the Vigneronne Cantillon 100% lambic. The fruity taste of the white grape harmonized with the powerful character of a two years old lambic make from the Vigneronne Cantillon a unique beer. Beer with a taste evolution. Store and serve at temperature 10-13C/50-55F. To enjoy completely the fruity taste of the Vigneronne Cantillon drink it better in the year after the purchase. To be drunk preferably within the 10 years after the bottling date.

Photos

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  Viognier Grapes from the 2020 harvest on the vine, c/o Christophe Bosque
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  Viognier harvest, 2020. c/o Christophe Bosque
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References

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