Don’t drive and drink… So Dirk Vermeersch decided to turn to wine after all.

Bright and fruity, the Le Plan Vermeersch RS Côtes du Rhône Rouge is reminiscent of red cherries and dried herbs. It is only medium-bodied, yet displays considerable richness and silky tannins that linger pleasantly in the finish. This Le Plan Vermeersch RS Côtes du Rhône Rouge is Vermeersch’s ‘entry-level’ wine. Yet, this Rhône blend of Grenache and Syrah offers more than an average Rhône wine. Often, the grapes are pressed too hard to extract all the juice, resulting in a harsh wine with hard tannins. Fortunately, this has been done with more care here. The RS-Rouge excels in its softness and is a true thoroughbred. A super-soft wine that melts on the tongue.

Career switch from cars to winemaker in France

Incredibly enthusiastic as always, but without a diploma and without prospects of a decent job, Dirk Vermeersch, as a young taxi driver, dreams primarily of making a career in motorsport. Barely two years after he had started local races with a street-legal car, he wins the 24 Hours of Zolder And in that same year, 1977, he was the reserve driver for the victory car at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. From that moment on, he became a professional racing driver.

After a long and successful career in motorsport, a serious rally accident in 1986 brought an end to his racing activities. Dirk took a step back and started operating a petrol station, where he simultaneously dealt in used cars. Three years later, his secret wish to become a dealer for a top-tier car brand came true. Dirk officially became a Lancia and Maserati dealer in Schilde, near Antwerp.

In 1999, he manages to sell the dealership for a good price. Retirement beckons, but Dirk cannot sit still. First, he acquires a ruin in the South of France, and subsequently, he starts a construction company to renovate the wreck into one of the most beautiful and largest buildings in the region. A third dream comes true: Dirk, his charming wife Hélène, and daughter Ann start running a B&B together in Provence. It is a bit like the story of Chateau Meiland, but without the TV series.

Next to the ruins lies a small plot with old Carignan vines. Dirk begins pruning and plowing enthusiastically like a seasoned autodidact. Before his family knows it, he is a full-time winemaker. His first LePlan-Vermeersch GT-S 2003 is awarded 2 stars in the Hachette Guide des Vins, and Robert Parker, the famous American Wine Advocate, gives his LePlan-Vermeersch GT-1 Chateauneuf-du-Pape 94/100 points.
The rest is history…