Update on Winter tasting November 15, 2025 - Lede - East Flanders
Today we published the dates of all wine tastings in Flanders, also part of Wallonia by the way that are public. This means that we obviously do not publish wine tasting events booked in Flanders as private or corporate events (team building).
Today the mailchimp email also went out to our Flemish clients.
Today I actually spent a total of 12 hours on the road with also 3.5 hours in traffic jams from one location to another to check everything in terms of staff on site, internet connections, set-up of the various rooms. And so today I was also inundated with questions. It was the least convenient time to get so many questions by phone, by social media via private chats and by email. However, I think a Question/Answer comes to mind.
Question 1: Where do we need to register in advance? Surely this is not done anywhere!!!
Answer: Unfortunately, in order for everything to run correctly in terms of personnel in subcontracting (Mise En Place Belgium), in terms of setting up wine buffet and other issues we were obliged to date this. Anyway, today I received the message that the sommeliers who already work for us every event are effectively free for our event by rearranging priorities. So, together with venue staff, we have enough man/woman strength to perform optimally even the busiest hours. Personally, I attach importance to being present among the participants and not pouring out myself because I cannot make a difference there behind a buffet after all. So ready and clear: no one needs to register in advance.
Question 2: Will there be enough parking and not like the tasting in the center of Mechelen in April where we just drove home without tasting a single glass of wine because all the parking lots in the area and even at the station were full?
Answer: my apologies for this very unforeseen shortcoming but if the city of Mechelen does not inform us about other events within walking distance - despite the request - then we cannot foresee this. In the street of the event location, in the large parking lot of Lede a bit further from the location, on the village square and in the adjoining streets there are 135 parking spaces in total. More than enough I think.
The reason why this big event is in Lede is because I was born and raisedthere . In recent months I have received many comments that I don't seem to know this village where it all began, under the church tower. That I am too international to still have a feeling for Lede. Sorry but in honor of my father Joseph Imschoot (Jos for short) and my mother Denise De Vos I am doing this tasting. I was brought into the world to do other things, go into teaching , become a hairdresser etc... but anything but become a wine importer/journalist/blogger. Indeed, I am no longer from under the church tower of Lede but that does not mean I have forgotten my roots. Not at all. I am very grateful to everyone who comes and I will pay tribute as a Lede Covetous Lady (I am not a farmer). Whether I do my tasting in Uccle, in Namur, in Liege, in Antwerp etc..., this remains one and the same story for me. Only Lede becomes a different entry point. This is where my cradle was.... Once upon a time 60 years ago.
Question 3: Why do you work with streaming and not the winegrowers themselves?
Our winemakers are perfectly capable of speaking from their location and my business partner - note co-owner Made In Piedmont Wines - specializes in this type of business. Not since yesterday by the way!!!
In a busy autumn, how can a winemaker travel the world and also do his work in the cantina. That is only possible for the big wineries. Our wineries produce a maximum of 10,000 bottles, out of 3 exceptions. There is neither the budget, nor the time, nor the commercial opportunity to do this. Each of our wineries has quasi no or 1 person staff.
What do you want as an audience
A/a small winegrower with very correct prices and top quality wines but who has to do everything on his own or at least almost on his own
Or
B/a winegrower who already has all the successes in the world and mostly "bought" awards, so he doesn't have to work on the road anymore, but who does outsource all the work in terms of marketing, tastings, vineyard, etc. to others. That winemaker can travel the entire autumn, be present everywhere in Europe and far beyond, but the wine is not made by the winemaker! There is an enologist at the helm who knows more about wine than the winegrower himself.
Make your choice!
Question 4: If I order, am I sure the wine will be delivered quickly?
Answer: We have large stocks of all our wines, we are not the kind of wine company that collects orders first and then passes them on. If we do have to order, it is done the first working day after the event, the shipment from La Morra being our shipping company IWS Logistics is done at the latest 5 days after ordering (the time of the winery delivery to Iws Logistics, the time needed to pay the excise taxes and to process all necessary administrative documents). So logically, even with all non-delivery dates in Belgium (Saturday/Sunday), a customer will have the wines by no later than November 29, 2025 in the very worst case scenario . So plenty of time to test out which wine with which menu.
Question 5: You studied sommelier but nowhere can I find that organization?
No, maybe not. I was a resident of Piedmont from 2012 to 2019. Besides the company Italia Incentives legal name of Srl (sprl) founded March 8, 2011 there was already Piedmont Travel and Made In Piedmont Wines from 2006. Logical given focus Piedmont that I do a three-year training with follow-up courses in Piedmont, in Turin. However that training does not deliver any sheets of "Ambassador" and is not just 4 days but again for 3 years with one area under the microscope namely Piedmont. However, the institute is called "Associazione Italiana Sommelier" and has trained 40,000 sommeliers throughout Italy between 1965 and today, including me, Karina Imschoot. By the way: here is the website https://www.aispiemonte.it/attivita-ais-piemonte/
Let me just say that the training and especially the years of further education I received actually cost as much as a very fancy car. So perhaps unknown, unloved Asscociazione Italiana Sommelier for Flemish people but for Italians the reference.
So they are not untraceable....
Question 6: Can we know which wines we will be tasting beforehand?
By November 8, 2025, all the wines we will be tasting will be published. Those who provide their email address will also receive all documents in advance. We don't like to waste paper but like to preserve trees.
If there are any questions:
one email address sales@madeinpiedmont-wines.be,
one phone number 0032 478 70 48 36 (Karina Imschoot )
back up number secretariat 0032 475 25 29 82
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