The Urban Vineyards Association is proud to announce the inclusion of Gentse Wijnmetersgilde, the Guild of the Wine Measurers of the City of Ghent, as a new member of the Association. With origins dating back to the 9th century, when Emperor Charles the Great established vineyards in Ghent, and formally founded in the 12th century to regulate the measurement and quality of wine entering the city, the Guild represents a remarkable example of Europe’s historic urban wine culture.
Officially revived in 1978 by the City Council of Ghent, the Guild today maintains a symbolic vineyard of approximately 500 grapevines in the historic gardens of St Pieters Abbey, located on the slope descending toward the River Scheldt. With nearly 250 members, it oversees vineyard management and vinification while organizing cultural and wine-related events throughout the year.
Recognized as UNESCO heritage and nominated as Flemish Intangible Cultural Heritage under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Gentse Wijnmetersgilde embodies a living connection between urban viticulture, civic tradition, and cultural continuity. Its inclusion further strengthens the Association’s international network, celebrating both innovation and the preservation of historic urban vineyard traditions.