Joni Sloesen left hospitality behind and founded Zavel winery during the coronavirus pandemic. In this episode of Sparks by VinoVonk, he sits down with Jeroen to talk biodynamic winemaking in the Netherlands, sourcing grapes from the Pfalz, and running a restaurant alongside the winery.
This episode is conducted in Dutch with English subtitles available, making it accessible to international wine enthusiasts curious about the Dutch wine scene.
The Moment Everything Changed
“After a stage in South Africa, working for a hotel, I truly fell in love with wine,” Joni reveals early in the conversation. However, what makes his story different is that he actually took action. When he returned to the Netherlands, burning with passion but unsure of direction, he asked his WSET instructor Jaap Heijmeijer a simple question: “I’m crazy about wine, how can I work with wine every day?”
That conversation changed everything. And from that day forward, as Joni puts it, “I started doing exactly that.”
Corona as Unlikely Catalyst
Perhaps the most surprising revelation? Joni started his winery during the coronavirus pandemic. “In corona time, I had enough time, so I set it up,” he explains with refreshing honesty. While others saw a crisis, he saw an opportunity. Talk about perfect timing - or was it an ideal preparation meeting opportunity?
The location adds another layer. The building housing Zavel has been home to family businesses for generations, previously a ceramics factory. Joni’s father still makes ceramics today, and Joni uses amphora for aging some of his wines — past and future in one bottle.
The Three-Hour Wine Journey
One of the episode’s most fascinating segments explores Joni’s unique approach: driving three hours to Germany’s Pfalz region to collect grapes, then processing them the same day in Tegelen. This isn’t desperation - it’s strategy. These biodynamically grown, Demeter-certified grapes serve as his bridge to establishing Dutch vineyards.
Listen to how he describes the relationships with German winemakers Dennis Wolf and Hannes Bergsträßer - partnerships built on shared philosophy rather than just business transactions. This collaboration represents how modern wine regions develop: through connection, not isolation.
Tasting Gold: When Words Become Wine
The middle section transforms into an intimate tasting session that makes you wish you were there. Jeroen’s reaction to the Kerner 2023 - describing it as a “bolt of citrus lightning” - captures that moment when a wine exceeds all expectations.
Joni’s honesty about Pinot Gris stands out: “I don’t find Pinot Gris the most interesting grape to work with as a maker.” Then he explains precisely how he transforms it through oak aging and lees contact — the kind of candor that makes this episode worth watching.
More Than Wine: The Restaurant Connection
Joni also runs Sober, a restaurant showcasing vegetables from their own garden alongside Zavel wines. When he describes pairing the Pinot Noir with knolselderij and hazelnuts, or wild goose ravioli with beurre blanc, you can practically taste the harmony between wine, food, and place.
This isn’t just business diversification - it’s philosophy in action. Joni creates complete experiences that tell the story of Dutch terroir through every sense.
The Dream Behind the Bottles
When Jeroen asks about Joni’s ultimate dream, the answer is disarming: “Making beautiful wine that I stand behind, wine that people can enjoy… That’s what wine is — very simple, very straightforward.”
But there’s profound depth beneath that simplicity. Joni speaks passionately about “caring for a piece of earth through something delicious” - using biodynamic practices and minimal mechanical intervention as acts of environmental stewardship. This philosophy extends far beyond winemaking to encompass authentic craft and genuine sustainability.
Why Watch This
Joni’s path from hotel school to winemaker covers fermentation decisions, oak choices, biodynamic philosophy, and the economics of starting a small winery. The Dutch conversation has English subtitles throughout.
The episode is honest in ways wine interviews rarely are — about which grapes are frustrating to work with, about what biodynamic farming actually demands, and about what it takes to build something from nothing during a pandemic.
Find Zavel wines at these locations:
Zavel webshop (weekly delivery, daily from April)
Amsterdam: Design & Wijn
Rotterdam: Wijn bij Henk • Dordrecht: Bonsoppel Wijn
Experience it all: Restaurant Sober at Zavel domain, Tegelen
Subscribe to Sparks by VinoVonk for more conversations with the passionate creators shaping Dutch beverage culture. Episodes feature Dutch conversations with English subtitles for international accessibility.
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