Belgian wine legislation — official wine regions

Reference date: 3 August 2026.

Belgium has ten protected wine designations: 8 PDO (AOP) and 2 PGI (IGP).

Sources: EU eAmbrosia register, Agency for Agriculture and Sea Fisheries (Flanders), Public Service of Wallonia and FPS Economy.

Disclaimer: the four Walloon product specifications were revised in 2018 (version 8), but those texts are not publicly available. The Walloon values below are taken from the most recently fully published texts (Côtes de Sambre et Meuse product specification version 3 of 2014 and the ministerial orders of 2004 and 2008) and may therefore be outdated. Where a current value cannot be confirmed, it is marked “n/a”.

1. PDO — Protected Designation of Origin (still wines)

Hagelandse wijn

Flanders

PDO-BE-A1499

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 9 July 1997 (secondary source); most recent standard amendment approved on 3 July 2024. EU protection: 14-04-2004; OJ C/2024/1490 of 16-02-2024.
Demarcation and key conditions: 27 municipalities and sub-municipalities in the Hageland (including Aarschot, Diest, Leuven, Tienen and Zoutleeuw), excluding Booienhoven and Ossenweg; sandbanks on hilltops and iron-rich south-facing slopes. Minimum natural alcoholic strength 8.5% vol.; maximum 80 or 90 hl/ha depending on variety.

Haspengouwse wijn

Flanders

PDO-BE-A1492

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 6 January 2000 (secondary source); no amendment order of 3 July 2024 published. EU protection: 14-04-2004; OJ C/2024/1485 of 16-02-2024.
Demarcation and key conditions: 16 municipalities in Haspengouw (including Sint-Truiden, Tongeren, Borgloon, Riemst, Bilzen and Alken); loam and marl soils. Minimum natural alcoholic strength 8% vol.; maximum 55 hl/ha, 80 hl/ha for six varieties.

Heuvellandse wijn

Flanders

PDO-BE-A1426

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 18 November 2005 (secondary source); most recent standard amendment approved on 3 July 2024. EU protection: 08-08-2009; OJ C/2024/1487 of 16-02-2024.
Demarcation and key conditions: 8 sub-municipalities of Heuvelland (De Klijte, Dranouter, Kemmel, Loker, Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem); south-facing slopes of Kemmelberg, Rodeberg, Monteberg and others; poor acidic sandy loam with iron sandstone, cool maritime climate. Minimum 8.5% vol.; maximum 55-80 hl/ha.

Maasvallei Limburg

Flanders (cross-border with the Netherlands)

PDO-BE+NL-02172

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 10 January 2018 (secondary source). EU protection: 12-05-2016; registered in OJ L 342 of 21-12-2017.
Demarcation and key conditions: The only cross-border Belgian-Dutch designation. Belgium: Kinrooi, Maaseik, Dilsen-Stokkem, Maasmechelen and Lanaken. Netherlands: Stein, Sittard-Geleen, Echt-Susteren, Maasgouw, Roermond and Leudal. Meuse terraces with gravel deposits in the Roer Valley Graben. Minimum 9.5% vol.; maximum 60/75/90 hl/ha depending on variety.

Côtes de Sambre et Meuse

Wallonia

PDO-BE-A0009

Recognition (national / EU): National: Walloon Government Order and Ministerial Order of 27 May 2004, amended by Ministerial Order of 29 May 2007; Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016. EU protection: 17-02-2006.
Demarcation and key conditions: Catchment area of the Meuse as defined in Article D.7 of the Water Code, with eight sub-basins: Meuse amont, Meuse aval, Sambre, Ourthe, Amblève, Semois-Chiers, Vesdre and Lesse; loam, with limestone or schist in the south. Minimum 8% vol.; maximum 65 hl/ha.

Requirement: 100% of the grapes must come from the demarcated area. Only the PDOs for still wine have a limited, clearly delineated area; the sparkling PDOs and PGIs cover the entire region. Belgium falls wholly within wine-growing zone A: acidification up to a maximum of 4 g/l tartaric acid, deacidification up to a maximum of 1 g/l.

2. PDO — Protected Designation of Origin (sparkling wines)

Flemish quality sparkling wine

Flanders

PDO-BE-A1430

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 18 November 2005 (secondary source); most recent standard amendment approved on 3 July 2024. EU protection: 08-08-2009.
Demarcation and key conditions: The entire Flemish wine-growing zone A. The name may be followed by one of 17 geographical units (coastal area, Westhoek, Bruges and Ommeland, Leie region, Meetjesland, Flemish Ardennes, Scheldt and Dender region, Waasland, Pajottenland and Zenne Valley, Dijle Valley, Antwerp and Antwerp Campine, Limburg Campine, mining district, Maasland, Voeren region, East Brabant hill country, South Limburg fruit-growing region). Second fermentation in bottle, 9 to 18 months' maturation; minimum 8% vol. base wine; maximum 85 hl/ha.

Crémant de Wallonie

Wallonia

PDO-BE-A0012

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 5 March 2008, in force from 29-06-2008 to 22-09-2016 and repealed by the Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016; product specification version 8 (2018) not public. EU protection: 01-08-2009.
Demarcation and key conditions: The entire Walloon Region; all production steps in Wallonia. Addition of a smaller geographical unit by province is permitted. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier only; whole grapes in the press; second fermentation in bottle with at least 9 months on the lees; minimum overpressure 4 bar; maximum 95 hl/ha.

Vin mousseux de qualité de Wallonie

Wallonia

PDO-BE-A0011

Recognition (national / EU): National: same Ministerial Order of 5 March 2008. EU protection: 01-08-2009.
Demarcation and key conditions: Identical area to Crémant de Wallonie: the entire Walloon Region, with the same smaller geographical units. Seven permitted varieties; machine harvesting remains permitted. Minimum 8% vol. base wine, maximum total 11.5% vol.; maximum 95 hl/ha.

Requirement: 100% of the grapes must come from the region. Since 12 May 2025, the BelBul label has also existed for Belgian sparkling wine: a privately registered quality label in addition to these three PDOs, not an eleventh protected designation.

3. PGI — Protected Geographical Indication (country wines)

Flemish country wine

Flanders

PGI-BE-A1429

Recognition (national / EU): National: Ministerial Order of 18 November 2005 (secondary source); most recent standard amendment approved on 3 July 2024. EU protection: 12-03-2008.
Demarcation and key conditions: The entire Flemish wine-growing zone A, with the same 17 geographical units as Flemish quality sparkling wine. All varieties of Vitis vinifera or crosses with other Vitis species. Minimum 8% vol.; maximum 90 hl/ha.

Vin de pays des jardins de Wallonie

Wallonia

PGI-BE-A0010

Recognition (national / EU): National: Walloon Government Order and Ministerial Order of 27 May 2004. EU protection: 26-01-2006.
Demarcation and key conditions: The entire Walloon Region; processing must also take place within the zone. All varieties of Vitis vinifera or crosses with other Vitis species. Minimum 8% vol.; maximum 90 hl/ha on average. Minimum organoleptic score 11/20.

Requirement: at least 85% of the grapes must come from the area (EU minimum). The Flemish product specification goes further and requires 100%; the Walloon PGI maintains 85% and explicitly permits interspecific crosses.