Cornalin Adrian Mathier AOC VS "Selection Gilde"

Ferdinand Mathier, great-grandfather of today's best Swiss winemaker of the decade, laid the foundations for the success of the family business now run by Nadia and Diego Mathier. As a dedicated vineyard inspector, he was already aware of the importance of the soil conditions, the vineyards and the microclimate in Valais at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1951, he pressed his first 12,000 liters of wine in the house where guests are now treated to regional specialties and, of course, exquisite wines from the Adrian & Diego Nouveau Salquenen AG wine cellar in the Barrique "Wine & Raclette" restaurant in the village center of Salgesch.

Adrian and Rosmarie Mathier, Diego's parents, played a pioneering role and presented their wines to countless people at numerous trade fairs in Switzerland. This was an important foundation stone for the upswing of the winery. Their tireless work was crowned in 1986 with the world championship title for the Œil-de-Perdrix.

Nadia and Diego have been running the company since 2001. With a great deal of passion and commitment, they have successfully developed the family-run business in the canton of Valais on the basis of continuity and sustainability in line with the company philosophy "Tradition, emotion, innovation and enjoyment - for generations". Countless international and national awards, including Best Swiss Winemaker of the Decade and three-time Swiss Winemaker of the Years 2018-2011-2007, as well as more than 1000 gold medals for their wines are impressive proof of this.

And perhaps the best news of all: in a wine world that will be increasingly characterized by female influences in the future, Nadia and Diego Mathier have already laid an important foundation stone for the successful continuation of the Mathier family's traditional business in their marriage with their five daughters and their future families and will continue to provide people with countless moments of pleasure with their wines in the future.

Listen in, the Mathier family will be happy to introduce themselves to you:

Cornalin, also known as «hell wine», is an old native grape variety that was very common in the old days. The people of Valais called it the Landroten. Research has shown that it was renamed Cornalin for marketing reasons - in fact a variety of the Aosta Valley, but where it no longer occurs. The fact that Cornalin d'Aoste is called Humagne Rouge in Valais adds to the confusion that sometimes surrounds the biggest red wine in the Alps. 

But the «hell wine» is rightly named. It has a dark ruby red colour, a fine fruity bouquet and it surprises the palate with somewhat wild and spirited tannins that round off harmoniously over the years. A characterful and original wine for lovers.

Cornalin is late-ripening, sensitive and capricious in production, which is why it was almost abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. Fortunately, thanks to the patience and tenacity of a few visionary winemakers, we can still enjoy it today! In its youth, it is at the peak of its fruitiness, but it also develops very positively during a few years of ageing: its fire becomes tamer, it takes on a remarkable patina of finesse and nobility, and it moults into the ideal companion for strong meat and game dishes.

Learn more about this grape variety