Cantillon Vigneronne

Description

Cantillon Vigneronne is a grape lambic produced yearly from Italian white grapes, most often of the Muscat varietal, though it depends on the harvest. Vigneronne is bottled in 75cl bottles and is generally bottled sometime between mid-October and late-November. Though the brewery states that it is only available in 75cl bottles, Vigneronne was also available in 37.5cl bottles on at least two occasions in 1999 and 2005. The fruiting process for Vigneronne consists of taking fresh grapes and placing them whole (without stems) into stainless steel tanks with two to three 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.

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,^[1] 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 lambic.^[2]

Unsubstantiated Stories

Cantillon Vigenronne is alternatively known as Vigneronne Birra All'Uva (Vigneronne Grape Beer) in Italy.^[3]

Bottle Log

Bottle date (mm/dd/yyyy)	Cork Date	Bottle Size	Label / Notes	Image Link
N/A	1996	750ml	Cuvée Akkurat	N/A
N/A	1999	375mL	Heavy glass	N/A
N/A	1999	750mL	No writing on front label beyond Vigneronne and bottle size.	N/A
N/A	2004	750mL	Heavy black foil over the cap, made with Chasselas grapes	N/A
N/A	2005	375mL	Sold in Denmark	N/A
N/A	2005	750mL	Best by 12/2009	N/A
10/30/2006	2006	750mL	Notes	N/A
N/A	2007	750mL		N/A
12/24/2008	2008	750mL		N/A
11/05/2009	2009	750mL		N/A
09/29/2010	2010	750mL		N/A
11/22/2010	2010	750mL		N/A
11/24/2011	2011	750mL		N/A
11/30/2011	2011	750mL		N/A
11/23/2012	2012	750mL		N/A
10/22/2013	2013	750mL		N/A

Label

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.