Wine Crate Basket

Okay I admit, we Dutch are a crazy bunch of people. Not only do we all ride bicycles, we also add all kinds of bags and baskets on them.

Lately it's a trend to use old wine crates to customize ones bike to show they are people who enjoy life and a good glass of wine.

In this case its even nicer as the crate origins from Chateau la Tulipe de la Garde and thats owned by a Dutch bloke called Ilja Gort (You might have guessed by the word 'Tulip' in the Castles name ;-))

It so happens that I know Ilja personally as a talented and successful composer of TV & Radio commercial jingles from the years we were both in Advertising as well as a fun guy that's completely crazy about France.

Did I mention successful? Well Ilja was and that gave him the opportunity to finance his second career dream… Owning a Wine Chateau in France, which he realized when he bought the rundown but promising Château la Tulipe de la Garde. 

In ten years time he managed to transform the ramshackle castle into a fully operational wine castle with both modern vinification equipment as well as traditional French oak barrels and dining a great job at that too.
His wines can be found in mayor Dutch supermarkets as Albert Heijn as well as Sainsburys abroad.

Did I mention he's a bit crazy too? In 2008, Ilja Gort had his nose insured with Lloyds of London for the sum of 5 million Euro.

Want to see a three minute video tour in English by the man himself? Just click on 'I wanna see the movie'

PS. Did I mention he's a composer? Note the concert piano in the lawn in front of the Chateau as a reminder of how he made his fortune.

PS2. Did I mention he's funny too? Every year he has Dutch volunteers to spend a week at the chateau to help harvest the grapes while a specially flown in professional piano player provides background music with a piano in the field.


Salut!