Thienpont Wine is a well-established wine importer and wine merchant based at Hof te Cattebeke, Etikhove since 1842, 12 years after Belgium became an independent country. For years, it was well-known for the quality of its own bottlings; the cellar still houses some of the old barrels from this time. Building on the Thienpont family roots in Bordeaux (family members own such well-known estates as L’IF, Le Pin, Vieux Château Certan, L’Hêtre, Puygueraud and Pellebouc), the Thienpont Wine selection’s main strengths lie in Bordeaux. The Thienponts have a treasured position on the “Place” de Bordeaux (where all classified Bordeaux is traded) as well as great contacts with small growers throughout the region. 

Over the last decade, we have been privileged to build on our great portfolio of Burgundy domains such as Domaine Raveneau, Clos de Tart, Marquis d’Angerville, Domaine Grivot Domaine des Lambrays and Domaine Duroché, many of which are sold exclusively in Belgium through us. Thanks to the reputation of our own estates, we have gathered an enviable portfolio of other great wines including Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and Domaine Vernay in the Rhône, Palacios from Spain, Billecart Salmon from Champagne, Trimbach from Alsace, and Egon Muller from the Moselle as well as personal favourites from throughout Europe.

A Royal Warrant Holder to the Belgian court for the past two monarchs, King Albert and King Philippe, Thienpont Wine is also Belgian ambassador for two prized Pomerol estates, Lafleur and Petrus.

Thienpont Wine is a family business run by a small but dedicated group of employees based in the Flemish Ardennes near Oudenaarde. Each one shares an interest in wine, and all speak three languages: Flemish, French and English. Many of them have WSET or sommelier qualifications and make up the Thienpont tasting panel which samples new wines every two weeks or so, to update our wine selection. They are all happy to give you help and guidance about our wines. 

Thienpont Wine prides itself on its family values, on its international reputation and the quality of its wine selection.

Here is a chance to meet them:

Fiona Morrison M.W.

Belgium’s only female Master of Wine, Fiona ‘s career in wine has spanned over 30 years on both sides of the Atlantic. She loves travelling, tasting wines and meeting with wine producers throughout the world. When she is back at her desk at Hof te Cattebeke, she manages the Thienpont Wine business  and still finds time to write tasting notes, wine articles and books, and be involved with the family’s Bordeaux estates. She met Jacques in Bordeaux 25 years ago and together they have built up Thienpont Wine to be the respected wine merchant that it is today.

Jacques Thienpont

Jacques probably needs no introduction, so well known is he for the incredible rise of his tiny estate, Le Pin in Pomerol. He spent most of his career working with his uncle Gérard in the family wine business and took over the company on Gérard’s death in 1995. Apart from his three Bordeaux estates, Jacques other passion is architecture and the restoration of the family domain in Etikhove takes up much of his time.

Katrien Goeminne

Katrien is our longest serving employee, (since 1998) who plays the invaluable role as our accountant and bookkeeper, as well as HR manager.  (We have even given Katrien her own office; so important is it that she has the calm necessary to keep our clients’ accounts and ours in order). Katrien is based in our Bruwaan office in Oudenaarde and helps out in a myriad of other ways in the office. Her great efficiency is an example to us all.

Cindy Meulyser

Cindy grew up in the Flemish Ardennes in a family of entrepreneurs, where she learnt that independent thinking, diplomacy, efficiency and courtesy are important keys to success. Having worked for a family brewery for 14 years, Cindy knows the importance of family values and has adopted us all here at Thienpont, where she runs the busy lives of Jacques, Alexander and Fiona and helps the team out wherever she can.

Amandine Coustenoble

Amandine brings lots of energy, organization and social skills to her job. She has a French restaurateur father and a Flemish mother and is immersed in the world of food and wine. She is quickly bringing us all into the 21st century with her social media and marketing plans which include the creation of the Thienpont Wine Club and many special events and tastings. In 2020, she gained the diploma with distinction as Sommelier-Conseil at Syntra and at the wine university of Suze La Rousse and recently passed the Level 3 of the WSET training with merit.

Vicky De Smet

After 4 years of working at the NMBS Vicky went back to school to study logistics management, before working in the transport sector. Based in our Bruwaan office, she handles all of our orders, shipments, transport  issues and assists Katrien with invoicing and bookkeeping. She loves good food, enjoying nature and is a big animal lover.

Jens Smekens

Jens is responsible for both our warehouses and their precious inventories and many of you will hear from Jens when he contacts you to organise the delivery of your wine orders. Jens studied at the Hotel Management School Ter Groene Poorte and then worked as a butler. He loves wine and enjoys travelling to different wineries. He has very good wine knowledge and is always ready to offer advice to our clients. When he is not busy with wine you can find him as a coach/player on the football pitch.

Kassandra Logé

Kassandra adds a touch of glamour and feminine efficiency to our warehouses although you are most likely to see Kassandra behind the wheel of one of our vans when she delivers your orders. Her greatest passion is motocross which she does with her young son; at weekends they travel around Belgium together to participate in competitions.

Serge De Geyter

Serge is our jack-of-all trades: he ensures the warehouses are in order; he looks after the maintenance of the buildings, cellars and grounds and he helps set up wine tastings. In fact every task that comes up, Serge does it with a big smile. His love of cooking, gardening and wine is much appreciated by the Thienpont team.

Charles Van Havre

Charles’ career started in the navy and merchant navy until he caught the wine bug, thanks to his great friend and Thienpont cousin, Paul de Moor. He was international export director of Kreglinger Wines, for several years before he joined the Thienpont Wine team as an independent consultant handling sales to private customers and several key accounts. When not marketing wine, Charles can be found in fine restaurants, good shooting estates and top golf courses.

Alexander De Raeymaeker

Our nephew (son of Jacques’ sister Anne De Raeymaeker) had a baptism of fire when he joined us in 2015, as his first job was to oversee the implantation of a new operating system and website. He is now Fiona’s right hand and the latest link in the chain of family management, handling all commercial aspects of our wine business. He is also doing his WSET wine studies and takes an active role in sommelier tastings and education. What he enjoys best is travelling to wine regions to taste the new vintages and meet the producers.

Kristof Naessens

Kristof joined us in early 2022 you will meet him either in our warehouse in Bruwaan, Oudenaarde or driving around in our delivery van. After a few years as an administrative assistant, Kristof realised he would rather roll up his sleeves. 12 years as a warehouse worker and chauffeur later, he found his way to Thienpont Wine, where he hopes to stay until his retirement. Today he ensures, along with Kassandra, that you receive your precious wines on time and always with a smile. Apart from work, Kristof is a bon vivant who loves to cook, enjoys barbecuing with his Green Egg and occasionally spoils himself with a culinary getaway.

Roxy

After a long line of German short haired pointers, we have downsized to having one dog as our Thienpont Wine mascot:  Roxy is a young, black Spanador (half Springer Spaniel, half Labrador) and is in charge of the welcoming committee. She lives on the premises and is sure to give you a warm greeting (as long as you are not a cat) and be careful not to leave your car boot open as she will jump inside.