Eugene Ernens

The Climb

The wine work at Crutzberg began in 2010, when Eugene Ernens left his role as a pharmacist and took on the winemaking at the estate. That change marked a second profession built on patience, precision, and attention to seasonal conditions. Since then, the house style has grown from sparkling wine outward, while still holding to the estate’s own ground.

Today

At Crutzberg, Ernens works with a restrained method: Méthode Traditionnelle for the sparkling wines, followed later by still wines as well. The stated aim is to make wine as purely as possible, without added flavorings or other substances, while trying to work as organically as possible. That approach keeps the wines direct and unadorned, with Chardonnay as the central thread running through the range.

Signature

Among Eugene Ernens’s signature wines are Chardonnay Barrique, Crutzberg Brut 2013, Crutzberg Chardonnay Barrique 2016, Crutzberg rosé Brut 2014, and Crutzberg Chardonnay 2016. Together, they point to the estate’s main lines of work: sparkling precision, Chardonnay-led structure, and a style that moves between freshness and depth.

In Their Words “We hebben in de wijken Crutzberg, Broeck en Krindaal prachtige zuidhellingen, bodemonderzoek leverde de ideale kalkgrond op, en in de buurt was Piet Akkermans ook al bezig met wijnbouw.” “We kozen voor een lange voorbereiding, richtten de schuren in als vinificatieruimte en plantten pas vier jaar geleden 2.000 wijnstokken Pinot Noir en 7.000 wijnstokken Chardonnay aan.” The work at Crutzberg, Broeck and Krindaal is anchored in south-facing slopes and chalk soil identified through soil research, with Piet Akkermans already active in viticulture nearby. The barns were converted into vinification space before planting, and the later addition of 2.000 wijnstokken Pinot Noir and 7.000 wijnstokken Chardonnay shows an estate built by stages rather than by shortcut.

Recognition

Eugene's honors include Mundus Vini gold medal for Crutzberg Brut (2017), Mundus Vini gold medal for Crutzberg Chardonnay Barrique (2017), Mundus Vini silver medal for Crutzberg rosé Brut (2017), Mundus Vini silver medal for Crutzberg Chardonnay (2017), Belgische Sommeliers silver medal for Chardonnay Barrique, and Mundus Vini silver medal for Chardonnay Crutzberg Barrique. The awards place sparkling wines and Chardonnay-led cuvées at the center of the estate’s recognition.