"I met Dirk in 1990. Right from the start, it was obvious that in addition to raising a family, we would also start a business together. Whether it's just one plant or a business, it basically boils down to the same thing: you have to give 100 per cent every day, believe in it and work at it. That's the only way it will grow. A few years ago, a new plan took root here, again a plan involving plants, but vines this time. It can't be a coincidence that Mother Nature provided Ravenstein with all the ingredients needed for an ideal wine estate."

"This is the farm where I was born and raised. My parents kept a dairy farm here. Personally, I have always been more interested in plants. After horticultural school, I first set up the Talpe Floriculture business here with Patricia. After 25 years of hard work together, we felt it was time to find a good balance between our craft and the good life. So that's how the idea of Ravenstein Wine Estate was born, out of sheer passion. But passion alone is not enough, I invested in the necessary preparation and became a qualified wine grower-winemaker. We planted the first vines in 2017."

Ravenstein Wine Estate is a former seigniory - an estate with a title and certain rights. 'De Heerlijkheid Ravenstein' is mentioned dating back as early as the 15th century. Lord Adolph of Cleves (°28/06/1425 - +18/09/1492), Lord of Ravenstein and Wijnendale, nobleman and statesman of the Netherlands, army commander and stadholder-general in the service of the Burgundian dukes and Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece ruled here.

In 1453, he married Beatrix of Portugal (1435-1462), daughter of King Peter of Portugal. After he was widowed, Adolph of Cleves remarried in 1470 to Anna of Burgundy (1435+1508), daughter of Duke Philip the Good. Their son, Philip of Cleves (1456), Lord of Ravenstein and Wijnendale, was military commander-in-chief of French Flanders. He married Francisca of Luxembourg in 1485.

From 1528, the Ravenstein farmstead was owned by the De Hane family.

On 6 May 1618, it became the property of Mailliaert Pardoen Sr. It was later inherited by the children. Later still, the couple Pieter Six and Jeanne de Man became owners. After them, the farmstead remained in the family for many years: in around 1682, it appears to have been owned by Jacques Six, in 1749, the farmstead belonged to Joannes Baptiste Six and from 1781, to Antoine-Grysole Six.

In around 1840, the homestead is registered in the name of the widow of Martin Berten . After 1900, we find the Dumont-Wijckhuyse family here. After WWI, on 16 March 1920, Kamiel Talpe settled on the Ravenstein homestead.

In 1983, the Talpe-Deneut family became owner-resident. Meanwhile, we, Dirk Talpe and Patricia Lenoir, are already the fourth generation of Talpes to settle on the farm. It was a dairy farm, which we converted into a floriculture business. And nowadays, we focus entirely on wine production. The location, the land, the sloping terrain, etc. Ravenstein has found its new purpose as a wine estate. And so have we. We are keen for as many people as possible to share in our passion.