Heerstaayen is a neighbourhood just outside Breda at the Belgian border along the river Mark. Thirty-six years ago we started a vineyard there, Domaine d’Heerstaayen, growing grapes from Burgundy: chardonnay, pinot noir and gamay. Also some merlot and cabernet-sauvignon. Later on we added riesling and pinot gris. Eventually riesling, chardonnay and pinot gris remained and we stopped producing red wine. We have tried to grow merlot and cabernet for thirty-five years, but as the climatic changes do not go that fast and these varieties do not ripen well enough we stopped growing them.