Valais cooperative Provins named Winemaker of the Year
“Team Provins” named Swiss Winemaker of the Year 2013: the country’s largest wine producer is a cooperative in Sion, ValaisBERN, SWITZERLAND / AMONG THE VINES – Provins in Sion, Valais, a cooperative that is the country’s largest wine producer, walked away from the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse (GPVS) awards in Bern Tuesday night with the title of Swiss Winemaker of the Year 2103 for its team.
The award is handed to the winery with the highest overall points score from the GPVS wine competition that took place in June.
Some 3,000 wines were entered by 600 producers, with entries from all six wine-producing regions in the country: Valais, Vaud, Geneva, German-speaking Switzerland, Ticino and the Three Lakes Region (in order of size, by volume of wine produced).
Record number of wines, some surprising wins show shift from tradition
Luscious patchwork of vines near FéchyVaud made a particularly strong stand with its wines this year, with two of the 12 first places and as many of the top three places for the 12 categories as canton Valais, which is by far the largest wine producing region.
There were otherwise some surprises, a sign that many producers are experimenting with new varieties and blends with great success. Merlot, traditionally a Ticino-only wine, for example, had two finalists from Vaud. And Gamay, better-known in Geneva and Vaud, had its top wine from Valais.
The winners are listed below, but the complete list is available on the free of charge Vinea Swiss Wines app, iPhone version, and on the new android version that will be available as of 30 October at 12:00. The app provides details on close to 500 wine producers, with an interactive map. You can also find the winners at www.grandprixduvinsuisse.ch and www.vinea.ch
This is the seventh year for the annual national competition, which saw a record number of wines entered. The Vinea Association, which organizes the competition, says in a statement that the competition offers producers an important communications tool. “The need for wine producers to market their wines and promote a strong image of Swiss wines continues to grow as the wine market becomes increasingly competitive and difficult, which helps explain the success and credibility of the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse.”
Summer competition names winners as harvest ends
Rhone river, Valais vineyardsThe competition takes place over five days, with more than 150 judges who are mostly professionals in the wine business – sommeliers, oenologists, producers but also journalists (I was one of them). The preliminary results, with 60 top wines named, were published in August and Tuesday night at a gala event for 400 people in the wine industry, organized by Vinea and wine revue Vinum, the winners of the 12 categories and four special prizes were named.
The winners are named just as the producers are finishing the bulk of their grape harvest and moving the last two years vintages out of the cellar to make way for the new. Medals will help the winners clear their stock more quickly; if you’re interested in trying the wines, don’t wait!
For the 12 first place winners: Valais producers had 4 winners of categories (varietal/single grape white wines, Gamay, wines with residual sugar and varietal reds – a tie). Vaud had two, Chasselas and rosé/blanc de noir wines. Ticino wine producers won two categories, Merlot and red blends. German-speaking Switzerland’s producers took the top prizes for Müller-Thurgau (canton Graubünden), Pinot Noir (Zurich) and sparkling wines (Schaffhausen). A producer from canton Fribourg, in Vully, was the winner of the white blends category.
The awards
Swiss Winemaker of the Year, special awards
The Swiss Winemaker of the Year title goes to the producer with the best overall result for the competition. This year Provins Valais won it for the second time – the first was in 2008.
The Bio prize for the best organic wine went to Weingut Bibi in canton Aargau for its Gamay Reichensteiner Spätlese AOC Aargau Fricker.
For the first time, two Vinissimo prizes have been awarded: the highest points score for white wines went to Christophe and Antoine Bétrisey from St-Léonard in Valais for their Petite Arvine Graine de Champion 2012 with 93.4 points. The highest points score for red wines was earned by Tenuta Vitivinicola Roberto and Andrea Ferrari in Stabio, Ticino for their Castanar Riserva 2007.
THE SPECIAL PRIZES
Winemaker of the Year 2013
Team Provins – 1951 Sion (VS)
www.provins.ch
Prix Vinissimo white
Petite Arvine Graine de Champion 2012, AOC Valais
Antoine et Christophe Bétrisey – 1958 St-Léonard (Valais)
www.betrisey-vins.ch
Prix Vinissimo red
Castanar Riserva 2007, Rosso del Ticino DOC
Tenuta Vitivinicola Roberto e Andrea Ferrari – 6855 Stabio (Ticino)
www.viniferrari.ch
Prix Swiss Bio
Gamay Reichensteiner Spätlese 2010, Frick AOC Aargau
Weingut FIBL – 5070 Frick (Aargau)
www.weingut.fibl.org
CHASSELAS
First prize
Petit Vignoble 2011 Yvorne Chablais AOC
Henri Badoux SA Vins – 1860 Aigle (Vaud)
Second prize
Yvorne Collection Chandra Kurt 2011 Yvorne Grand Cru Chablais AOC
Bolle et Cie SA – 1110 Morges (Vaud)
Third prize
Hôtel Richard 2012 Vully AOC
Schmutz Vins SA – 1788 Praz (Vully) (Fribourg)
Finalists
Domaine des Abeilles d’Or de Satigny 2012 AOC Genève
Domaine des Abeilles d’Or –1242 Satigny (Geneva)
Clos Maijoz 2011 Aigle Chablais AOC
Commune d’Aigle – 1860 Aigle (Vaud)
Fendant 2012 AOC Valais
Cave Corbassière – 1913 Saillon (Valais)
MÜLLER-THURGAU
First prize
Riesling-Sylvaner 2012 AOC Fläsch
Weingut Thomas Marugg – 7306 Fläsch (Graubünden)
Second prize
Riesling Sylvaner Generation 3.0 2012 AOC Zürich
Kilchsperger Fam. – 8416 Flaach (Zurich)
Third prize
Falkenkönig 2012 AOC Aargau
Weinkellerei Coop, Basel – 4133 Pratteln (Basel)
Finalists
Riesling-Sylvaner 2012 AOC Graubünden
Luzi Jenny-Willi – 7307 Jenins (Graubünden)
Riesling x Madeleine Royale élevé fûts de chêne 2012 AOC Zürichsee
Lüthi Weinbau – 8708 Männedorf (Zurich)
Bernecker Riesling Sylvaner 2012 AOC Stfûts de chêne 2012 Gallen
Schmid Wetli AG – 9442 Berneck (St Gallen)
OTHER WHITE VARIETAL WINES
First prize
Petite Arvine Graine de Champion 2012 AOC Valais
Antoine et Christophe Bétrisey –
1958 St-Léonard (Valais)
Second prize
Chardonnay Castel 2010 AOC Valais
Cave Colline de Daval – 3960 Sierre (Valais)
Third prize
Enderlin Gewürztraminer 2011 Maienfeld AOC
Enderlin Weine – 7304 Maienfeld (Graubünden)
Finalists
Petite Arvine Les Titans 2011 AOC Valais
Provins Valais – 1951 Sion (Valais)
Païen 2012 AOC Valais
Cave Ardévaz SA – 1955 Chamoson (Valais)
Petite Arvine 2011 AOC Valais
Les Celliers de Vétroz – 1963 Vétroz (Valais)
WHITE BLENDS
First prize
Cuvée de l’Arzille 2011 Vully AOC
Domaine Chervet – 1788 Praz (Vully) (Fribourg)
Second prize
1807 Blanc 2012 Montreux Lavaux AOC
Domaine des Châbles – 1807 Blonay (Vaud)
Third prize
Granito 2011 Ticino DOC
Agriloro SA – 6864 Arzo (Ticino)
Finalists
La Céleste 2010 Vinzel Grand Cru La Côte AOC
Domaine Delaharpe – 1183 Bursins (Vaud)
In Flagranti Salgesch 2011 AOC Valais
Cave Chez Violaine – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Cuvée Salomée 2012 AOC Zürichsee
Weinbau Wetli Männedorf – 8708 Männedorf (Zurich)
ROSÉ AND BLANC DE NOIR WINES
First prize
Melrose 2012 Villette Lavaux AOC
Domaine de la Grille – 1091 Grandvaux (Vaud)
Second prize
Le Rosé Gamaret Garanoir 2012 La Côte AOC
Uvavins, Cave de la Côte – 1131 Tolochenaz (Vaud)
Third prize
Méditerranée 2012 Vaud AOC
Cave Philippe Bovet – 1271 Givrins (Vaud)
Finalists
Rosé de Gamay 2012 La Côte AOC
Domaine des Ours – 1195 Dully-Bursinel (Vaud)
Domaine de la Doye Rosé de Gamay 2012 La Côte AOC
Les Frères Dutruy – 1297 Founex (Vaud)
Rosé de Pinot Noir 2012 AOC Bielersee
Klötzli- Weingut Zum Twannbach – 2513 Twann (Bern)
PINOT NOIR
First prize
Grand Cru de Pinot Noir 2009 AOC Zürich
Weinbau Baur-Ammon – 8197 Rafz (Zurich)
Second prize
Pinot Noir Barrique Cuvée Charlotte 2011 Neuchâtel AOC
Caves de Chambleau – 2013 Colombier (Neuchatel)
Third prize
Clos du Châtelard – Cuvée des Sens 2010 Villeneuve Chablais AOC
Hammel SA – 1180 Rolle (Vaud)
Finalists
Spina Nera 2010 Epesses Lavaux AOC
Etienne et Louis Fonjallaz – 1098 Epesses (Vaud)
Lampert’s Pinot Noir Sélection 2011 AOC Graubünden
Weingut Heidelberg – 7304 Maienfeld (Graubünden)
Sinfonie 2010 AOC St Gallen
Weingut am Steinig Tisch – 9425 Thal (St Gallen)
GAMAY
First prize
Gamay de Chamoson 2012 AOC Valais
Cave du Vidomne –
1955 St-Pierre-de-Clages (Valais)
Second prize
Château de Lully 2012 Morges Grand Cru La Côte AOC
Bolle et Cie SA – 1110 Morges (Vaud)
Third prize
Les Romaines Grande Réserve Gamay 2009 La Côte AOC
Les Frères Dutruy – 1297 Founex (Vaud)
Finalists
La Chênaie Gamay de Peissy Genève AOC
élevé en fût de Chêne 2011 Cave et Domaine Les Perrières S.A. – 1242 Satigny (Geneva)
Le Baron Rouge 2012 AOC Genève
Domaine des Charmes – 1242 Satigny (Geneva)
Gamay 2012 AOC Valais
Domaines Rouvinez – 3960 Sierre (Valais)
MERLOT
First prize
Punta Rossa 2010 Ticino DOC
Azienda Agricola Cadenazzi – 6873 Corteglia (Ticino)
Second prize
Clos du Châtelard – Apicius 2010 Villeneuve Chablais AOC
Hammel SA – 1180 Rolle (Vaud)
Third prize
Merlot Nadia Mathier 2011 AOC Valais
Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau
Salquenen AG – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Finalists
Merlot 2011 Perroy Grand Cru La Côte AOC
Cave du Consul – 1166 Perroy (Vaud)
Böla 2011 IGT
Mauro e Nevio Poli – 6827 Brusino Arsizio (Ticino)
Monti – Il Canto Della Terra 2011 Ticino DOC
Cantina Monti S.a.g.l. – 6936 Cademario (Ticino)
OTHER VARIETAL RED WINES
First prize – tie
Humagne Rouge 2011 Saint-Saphorin Lavaux AOC
Cave du Château de Glérolles SA – 1071 St-Saphorin (Vaud)
First prize – tie
Cornalin réserve 2011 AOC Valais
Jean-René Germanier SA – 1963 Vétroz (Valais)
Third prize
Humagne Rouge Soleil d’Or 2011 AOC Valais
Imesch Vins – 3960 Sierre (Valais)
Finalists
Syrah 2011 St-Saphorin Lavaux AOC
Cave des Rois – 1814 La Tour-de-Peilz (Vaud)
Syrah Diego Mathier 2011 AOC Valais
Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Cabernet Franc Domaine Fernand Cina 2011 AOC Valais
Cave Fernand Cina SA – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
RED BLENDS
First prize
Castanar Riserva 2007 Rosso del Ticino DOC
Tenuta Vitivinicola Roberto e Andrea Ferrari – 6855 Stabio (Ticino)
Second prize
Coeur de Domaine Rouge 2011 AOC Valais
Domaines Rouvinez – 3960 Sierre (Valais)
Third prize
Clos Corbassières 2010 AOC Valais
Provins Valais – 1951 Sion (Valais)
Finalists
Clos du Rocher rouge Grand Cru 2011 Yvorne Chablais AOC
Obrist SA – 1800 Vevey (Vaud)
Baroq 2011 AOC Valais
Jean-René Germanier SA – 1963 Vétroz (Valais)
Riserva del Padrone 2011 Ticino DOC
Agriloro SA – 6864 Arzo (Ticino)
WHITE, RED AND ROSÉ WINES WITH RESIDUAL SUGAR, FROM 8 G/L
First prize
Grains de Malice Maître de Chais 2010 AOC Valais
Provins Valais – 1951 Sion (Valais)
Second prize
Chevalier d’Or 2010 AOC Valais
Vins des Chevaliers – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Third prize
Chevalier d’Or 2011 AOC Valais
Vins des Chevaliers – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Finalists
Domaine Tourbillon 2009 AOC Valais
Provins Valais – 1951 Sion (Valais)
Gemma Smaragd Ermitage 2010 AOC Valais
Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Gemma Topas Assemblage de cépages nobles 2011 AOC Valais
Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
SPARKLING WINES
First prize
Vin Mousseux (no vintage) AOC Schaffhausen
Weingut Stoll – 8218 Osterfingen (Solothurn)
Second prize
Brut (no vintage) Vaud AOC
Cave Philippe Bovet – 1271 Givrins (Vaud)
Third prize
Le Genevoisie Brut 2009 Genève AOC
Cave et Domaine Les Perrières S.A. – 1242 Satigny (Geneva)
Finalists
Bouvier Brut (no vintage) Neuchâtel AOC
Caves Châtenay-Bouvier SA – 2017 Boudry (Neuchatel)
Folie à deux Brut (no vintage) AOC Valais
Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG – 3970 Salgesch (Valais)
Irchelchlöpfer 2010 Schweizer Landwein
Weingut Gehring – 8427 Freienstein (Zurich)
[…] “My first priority,” says Garcia, “will be to improve brand recognition for Provins wines to increase sales across all the client segments.” Garcia notes that Provins is known for the quality of its wines; the group in 2013 for the second time was named Swiss Winemaker of the Year. […]