Cornalin Neyrun

In 1936, Oswald Mathier-Küchler founded the company "Vins des Chevaliers" in Salgesch, in the midst of an impressive mountain backdrop on the fertile banks of the Rhone. The winery was renamed Domaines Chevaliers in 2017. The current team runs this noble winery with new esprit - a great legacy: Vins des Chevaliers once flew all over the world with the legendary "Dôle des Chevaliers" on board Swissair.

Around 20 hectares are vinified at Domaines Chevaliers. In addition to the traditional brand "Vins des Chevaliers" and the "Sherpa Collection", the premium line "Lux Vina" has also been produced and marketed for several years. Lux means light, and these wines represent the best of the Domaines Chevaliers estate. Vineyards that are difficult to access and old dry stone walls have been selected, restored and revitalized. The oldest vines for Lux Vina are well over 50 years old and produce small yields but very complex grapes.

Our powerful and energetic wines impressively demonstrate how the perfect synthesis of the special geological conditions, the magnificent light conditions in combination with the mild, Mediterranean climate here in Valais allows wines with a specific character of origin to grow. Some of the wines have been organic under the Valais brand since 2019.

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