In the name of the Father and the Wine

Pierre Charlier is a legend of wine. He passed away in 2011, but it was he who, in the 1980s, gave birth to La Vigneraie in Charleroi, a name that soon rose to the summit of Belgium’s great wine cellars. A visionary for many enthusiasts, possessed of deep knowledge, he became a pioneer and a remarkable discoverer of talent.

More than a decade has passed. La Vigneraie has moved to the hills above Charleroi, nestled along a street rich in fine addresses, and it is now Thibaut Charlier, his son, who carries forward the living legacy of his father.

The place lives like a wine cellar to dine in.
Elsewhere, some have borrowed the concept, polishing the label but rarely the essence, where plates often fail to take flight and the glass remains dull. Here, though, we are at the very heart of wine and the table. Wine leads the conversation. Thibaut expresses himself with insight and joy, a mix of clever advice and inspired pairings, of beautiful bottles and rare gems uncovered through his encounters with winemakers.

Beyond the boutique, lined with its handsome bottles, lies a warm dining room anchored by a communal table, a space with heart, with cellar, with generosity.

The plate, meanwhile, bears the signature of Annie Decrolière.
On her board this week: veal tartare with razor clams and peas; lightly seared bluefin tuna with fennel salad; pan-fried foie gras burger with porcini mushrooms; red mullet with salicornia cream and piperade; veal tenderloin with confit shallots and aligot.
To close, a heartfelt nod to the cheese selection from Petit Jean.

Liquid or solid, pure pleasure.

LD