The spirit of Clos de Tsampéhro
Our philosophy is simple: to use our wines to showcase the 'grandeur' of a rich and complex Valais terroir, as well as the wonderful mosaic of soils in the Clos de Tsampéhro, with as little intervention as possible.
A commitment to excellence
The choice of specifications that do not allow any compromises in terms of quality, nor any "savings" in the work done in the vineyard, during vinification or during ageing; The hope that the combined experience and passion of the four "tsampéhristes" will enable them to approach a certain Bacchic perfection;
And the freedom to free ourselves, for many years to come, from the commercial considerations that often make dreams evaporate: the Clos de Tsampéhro is above all a human adventure.
Striking a balance between technology and craftsmanship
Clos de Tsampéhro aims to draw its energy from the combination of know-how handed down by generations of winegrowers and the use of the most modern knowledge and technologies.
The technique will be expressed principally in oenological practices: grape handling procedures, pressing protocols, diversity of types of fermentation and vinification. During the ageing phase, the construction of a cellar that complies with particularly strict criteria for hygrometry, temperature and light will help to perfect the wines.
It's all about keeping up with the times, with what viticultural and ampelographic sciences can add to the quality of the wines, while scrupulously respecting the soil and the raw materials. For Clos de Tsampéhro, this necessarily means going beyond traditional integrated production techniques, by adopting certain principles of organic viticulture. At the same time, we are committed to preserving a unique terroir for future generations.
An "identity" requirement
Le Clos de Tsampéhro is also about respecting the history of a place located in the wine-growing commune of Lens: an ancient locality registered as "Tsampéhro", which in Lens dialect means "field" or "pear field", in reference to its original use well before the planting of vines.
In 1313, reference is made to a vineyard in Granges, at the foot of the Lens hillside, where the "historic" Valais white grape variety and a red wine were produced ("de Neyrum de humagny et de Regy"). While the white Rèze ("Regy") grape variety is recognisable, the "neyrum de humagny" is the Cornalin grape variety of today, which in its Latin meaning of "black" still evokes its old local name.
In fact, less than 50 years ago, only a few plants of this variety remained in the world, in the communes of Sierre and Lens. And today, Clos de Tsampéhro has the privilege of including - within its perimeter - the oldest parcel of Cornalin vines still in production (nearly 100 years old).
In the Clos de Tsampéhro replanting plan, the issue of regional roots was therefore paramount, with the emphasis on indigenous grape varieties: Rèze of course, Heida, Petite Arvine and Completer for the whites, and Cornalin for the reds.
Le Clos de Tsampéhro is also about respecting the people who have patiently shaped this place. To reconstitute the Clos into a single entity of almost three hectares, many owners had to be convinced of the merits of the project. It took several years of diplomacy, culminating in around thirty notarised deeds.
Finally, the Clos de Tsampéhro is also the recognition of the talent of two local children, winemaker Joël Briguet and oenologist Vincent Tenud.
Our local produce
To discover Clos de Tsampéhro, you first have to travel to Switzerland, to the heart of the Valais Alps and climb the hillside between Sierre and Sion.
Clos de Tsampéhro, located on the Crêtes de Vaas in the commune of Lens, has a vineyard area of 3 hectares in a single block.
The Clos, located in the first zone at an average altitude of 660 m, is 320 m long, 115 m wide and has a perimeter of 830 m. The whole of Le Clos has a median slope of 35%, rising to 55% on the hillsides.
The parches enjoy optimum south/south-west exposure, capturing maximum sunlight.
Central Valais enjoys a Mediterranean-type microclimate, with up to 2,500 hours of sunshine a year: the Bernese and Valais Alps protect the Rhone Valley by blocking the wet masses flowing from north to south. The mountains act as a barrier to the clouds that pour their rain onto the opposite slope. Only a dry, warm wind can get through: the foehn.
Average temperatures are -0.2°C in January and 20°C in July, and rainfall is 550 mm per year. This microclimate is characterised by wide temperature swings, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and in a balanced way, which is particularly important for the expression of aromas and the freshness of the wine.
From a geological point of view, the soils were the subject of a complete analysis in 2009 and 2018, which established their suitability for the most demanding viticulture. Most of the soil consists of limestone scree of varying degrees of complexity, composed of schist, acidic soil with a sandy-loamy texture. These soils retain little water, store heat during the day and release it at night, giving the wine richness, intensity and smoothness.
Organic matter is added by crushing the year's prunings and applying organic compost.
The draining structure of the soil and the particularly dry climatic conditions of the Central Valais sometimes require the use of an ancestral irrigation system: the bisses, fed by meltwater from the surrounding Alpine glaciers. The crystal-clear water from Clos de Tsampéhro comes directly from the melting of the Plaine Morte glacier at an altitude of 3,000 metres. This minimal addition of water, targeted to the hottest years, reduces the water stress that is often harmful to the vines in the Valais (shallow soils) and ensures a perfectly ripe, well-balanced harvest.
Clos de Tsampéhro
Discover Clos de Tsampéhro, located in the heart of Flanthey in the Valais. This exceptional wine estate embodies the perfect harmony between tradition and modernity, offering a unique experience for wine lovers and epicureans alike!
Vineyard structure and management
Discover our environmental initiatives at our winery, where every step is meticulously thought out to obtain grapes of the highest quality while preserving nature and the integrity of the vines.
Every effort has been made to obtain the raw material needed to make great wines: taking advantage of the restructuring of the vineyard, the plots have undergone major work, including the creation of small terraces to improve photosynthesis yields by reducing the shade cast from one row to the next, and at the same time guaranteeing a brake on erosion. By planting the rows along the contour lines, we were able to obtain rows in which the foehn (warm wind) can ideally play its role without damaging the integrity of the foliage.
The rows are fully equipped with a wire trellising system to ensure that the plant material is held in place. Two training systems are used, depending on the grape varieties and their production potential: permanent cordon pruning (for grape varieties that bear fruit on the base eyes, such as Merlot) or simple guyot pruning (for grape varieties that bear little fruit, such as Pinot Noir).
Most of the work in the vineyard is carried out by hand and meticulously cared for. The soil is also tended by hand, with regular digging and weeding using winch ploughing (no chemical weedkillers).
To ensure good ventilation of the bunches of grapes, leaf thinning is carried out sparingly so as not to cause burns to the bunches, particularly on the southern sides of the rows.
With yields reduced to a strict minimum and adapted to each grape variety (400 to 600 g/m2 for the reds and 700 to 800 g/m2 for the whites), all the oenological parameters essential for optimal winemaking are brought together: perfect health, phenolic maturity, balanced sugar and acidity levels.
For Cornalin, the 'tips' of the bunches are cut off at the lower half to better concentrate the juice in the berries.
The grapes are harvested by hand, in 15kg boxes, to ensure that the bunches remain perfectly intact.
Our Vines
We use organic farming methods that respect the environment and encourage a balanced ecosystem. To preserve our land despite the sloping terrain, we plant indigenous shrubs and use green manure. We also enrich our soil with compost and organic waste, avoiding the use of weedkillers. Our commitment is to create a sustainable environment for healthy agriculture.
We work with the greatest respect for the soil and the environment. All our treatments are carried out using natural products. We do not use any weedkillers. To develop a balanced ecosystem in our Clos, we have planted many fruit trees. We also seek to preserve our land and ensure its long-term survival by planting native shrubs to counter the erosion that can be caused by the steep slopes of the Clos, and by installing insect hotels. Green fertilisers are used in the form of red clover, alfalfa and fescue. We also apply compost and deposit shredded prunings and pomace (skins and pips) from our grapes after fermentation. The aim of all this is to add natural organic matter.
During the partial replanting of Le Clos in 2011, 2012 and 2013, particular attention was paid to the selection of grafts and rootstocks. Joël Briguet, himself the son of a wine nurseryman, has obtained very high quality vine plants from the best Swiss specialists. Our rootstocks are mainly 5BB with average vigour.
When grafting on our current plots, we decide to favour massal selection by working with different isolated grafts with the Lilian Bérillon nursery. This allows us to avoid choosing clones that all have the same weaknesses and reduce the diversity of our vineyards.
After grafting, we carefully monitor the different massal selections to understand how they adapt to our environment.
To ensure good ventilation of the bunches of grapes, leaf thinning is carried out sparingly so as not to cause burns to the bunches, particularly on the southern sides of the rows.
Clos de Tsampéhro now offers a range of ten grape varieties, including five whites and five reds. The choice of grape varieties and the areas planted were determined by the desire to produce three blended wines and a fourth cuvée that boldly combines 'ethnic' varieties (indigenous/autochthonous) with noble grape varieties.
To discover the passport for each of the grape varieties used in our cuvées, we invite you to visit the pages for each of our wines.
Clos de Tsampéhro Brut > Petite Arvine, Chardonnay et Pinot Noir
Clos de Tsampéhro White > Rèze & Heïda
Clos de Tsampéhro Red > Cornalin, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc