Spotlight
Walliser Bote, 2.6.2016 – The Adrian & Diego Mathier winery from Salgesch won the highest category with its Ambassadeur white at the world’s largest wine award.
The idea for Ambassadeur white came to Diego Mathier in 2008, when he wanted to capture the cool freshness of the Alps with a new wine creation. This was to be achieved with the three grape varieties Heida, Ermitage and Petite Arvine. “The Heida from our vines in Turtmann was to contribute acidity, extreme length and a refreshing element, the Petite Arvine was to provide the zing and the Ermitage the aromatics,” says Mathier.
Perfectionism
For six years, he worked on the creation with his wife Nadja, with whom he took over the family business in 2001, and their oenologist Cédric Leyat. They fine-tuned the individual components of the wine and carried out annual blind tastings in which they played with the proportions of the individual components. They always found something they didn’t like. Then it was Leyat’s turn to trim the wine in the desired direction.
In 2013, the time had finally come: they were convinced that this was how the assemblage should be. The countless small details worked together harmoniously. The decisive step had been taken, the inner perfectionist appeased. In addition to optimal vinification, from now on they let nature do the work: “Every year is different. A rainy year produces a different wine than a warm one,” explains Mathier.
Not “just” gold
The result is something to be proud of. Last year, the Ambassadeur white from the 2013 vintage won the Regional Trophy (Platinum) from the trade magazine “Decanter” as the best wine in Switzerland, along with numerous other prizes. This year, the winery took part in the awards again. The tasting took place in the enormous London warehouse called “Tobacco Dock”. Sixty-nine of the world’s 343 Masters of Wine were present. Supported by 26 master sommeliers and other regional experts, the 244-strong jury tasted around 16,000 wines blind. Bottles that received a gold medal then competed in their region, for example in Northern Italy and Switzerland. Those that were successful there received a platinum medal. Next, the jury selected the world’s best of the Platinum winners in each category. This was the case with the Ambassadeur white from the Adrian & Diego Mathier winery, which can now call itself the “Platinum Best in Show” in the “White wines costing more than 21 francs” category.
Meaning?
What does the prize mean for the winery? Mathier: “For me, it is certainly the most important international prize that a Swiss wine has ever won. It is also very important that we show the whole world that Swiss wines are at least on a par with the best or even surpass them.” People abroad are increasingly raving about Valais wines. Especially the Petite Arvine or Heida, and the crispness of the local red wine is appreciated. “Valais is being discovered by the wine world,” says Mathier. And he is convinced that such awards will further promote this development. The added fame also has a positive impact on demand, reports Mathier: “When we won the Regional Trophy last year, we had an extremely high number of inquiries from abroad. However, we decided at the time to sell the wine primarily in Switzerland.”
New pearl planned
Due to their fame, customers do not have to expect massive French-style price increases: “We have a large base of private customers who have been loyal to us for years and to whom we don’t suddenly want to sell the wine at a much higher price,” says Nadja Mathier.
The Ambassadeur white is selling like a bottled elixir of life. And a new red assemblage is already being planned. However, it is not yet clear when this will be released. First it’s a case of trial and error, tinkering and fine-tuning.
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