2_1_DiscoverGermany_May 2015_Issue26:Scan Magazine 1
27/4/15
15:02
Page 61
Discover Germany | Big Wine Special | Switzerland
“For me acquiring this vineyard was a commitment to the winemaking tradition of my family and a declaration of love towards my geographical home,”says Pierre-Alain Mathier.“This is something I want to pass on to my descendants.”Pierre-Alain Mathier’s family have lived in Salgesch, just a few kilometres away from the Domaines des Virets, since the 14th century and began producing wines almost immediately. Having worked in London and NewYork before moving to Zurich about 20 years ago, where he lives now with his family, Mathier explains that buying the vineyard has not only allowed him to honour his family traditions but also to pursue his other passions.
Wines made of grapes grown on best possible soils Under the watchful eye of the oenologist Iwan Imboden, the grapes grown on the vineyards of the Domaines desVirets evolve into two excellent wines: a Fendant and a Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir is an elegant and smooth wine with a taste perfectly fitting to accompany red meat, fish and Brie. It is ready to be enjoyed two to four years after harvest. The Fendant, made from the Chasselas grapes, is not only aromatic but has a soft bitterness that makes it perfect for an aperitif or as a tasteful addition to fish, shellfish and cheese dishes.
A wine region formed by ice and earth shifts With about 5,000 hectares of vineyards theValais is an important wine region, where more than 40 wine specialities are made. Notably, many vintners have turned away from mass-market wines recently and now exclusively concentrate on producing high quality wines, admittedly with a decrease in quantity but with a significant increase in quality. varieties were originally cultivated here: Chasselas and Pinot Noir. And now some Heida vines have been added to the vineyard as well. The vineyard is considered among the region’s very best and the vines grown here are between 15 and 48 years old.
With a landscape formed by retreating glaciers since the Ice Age, the ancient geological history not only made its mark on the scenery but now has a veritable influence on the taste of the wines grown on this soil.
Issue 26 | May 2015 | 61