Local Makers: Chateau Amsterdam
The tastiest treats, prettiest puzzles, cleverest cutting boards, finest wines and quirkiest wooden figures—all crafted by Amsterdam-based makers. But how do they create these wonders? And what makes their products so special? In this edition, we raise a toast to Chateau Amsterdam. We interviewed the founder, Remy Harrewijn, about the origins of Chateau Amsterdam. But first, check out this video to see how Amsterdam’s very own wine is made.
Uncorking a passion
When your parents have a serious love for wine, it's almost a given that you'll end up making your own. Or so Remy Harrewijn’s story goes. By the time he was fifteen, he'd often come home from school to find three mystery bottles ready for a blind tasting. The Harrewijn family's love for wine flowed as freely as a good bottle of red—could it be in the name? So, when Remy later had some extra space in the warehouse of his communications agency, he didn’t hesitate to dive into the world of winemaking with his father.
Amsterdam grapes?
Remy’s father, Jos, did a two-month internship with winemaker Alois Lageder while Remy and five friends pooled enough money to buy stainless steel tanks. They had the basics, but one key ingredient was missing: the grapes. Since Amsterdam isn’t exactly known for its vineyards, Jos and Remy headed to the south of France, where, thanks to Alois Lageder’s connections, they could purchase grapes from winegrowers. In 2017, the first grapes arrived at their winery in Amsterdam, and a year later, the first 6,000 bottled wines were ready.
An Amsterdam winery
Six years after those first bottles, Remy now works full-time at Chateau Amsterdam. His father, Jos, has passed the baton to a professional winemaker. And those five friends who initially invested? They've grown into a group of 700. The winery has since moved to a more prominent location, complete with a professional production facility, tasting room, restaurant, shop, and garden. It’s the perfect place to taste Amsterdam’s first wine label.
The I amsterdam Store, your go-to shop for Amsterdam gifts, gives a platform to the stories of local makers like Chateau Amsterdam. You’ll find us at the back of Central Station, in the IJ-hal.
