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Cave Caloz vineyard

Cave Caloz

The Caloz family established this domaine in 1960, when Fernand Caloz began vinifying his own grapes in his home village of Miège, directly on the valley’s Franco-German linguistic border.


The Caloz family established their domaine in 1960, setting up their home and cellar in the village of Miege which sits midway between the town of Sierre, at the southern end of the Valais, and the famous ski area of Crans-Montana. Fernand Caloz, father of the current proprietaire, began the arduous process of tending the vines in this mountainous region where the vineyards sit on steep terraces and must be worked by hand. Conrad Caloz, son of Fernand, joined by his wife, Anne-Carole, now manages the affairs of this small family domaine.

The domaine follows a philosophy and system of viticulture known locally as “Production Intégrée”, an approach designed to “protect nature and the environment”. Conrad Caloz is a founding member of Vitival, the governing body of this viticultural movement, since 1989. The rules of this system require the growers to follow a regimen of sustainable practices in the vineyards and the equipment used in the production of the wines is regulated as well, all in the cause of insuring the ongoing vitality of this visually stunning region.

The Coteaux de Sierre appellation and the village of Miège benefit from the high-altitude conditions typical of the Alps. The soil is heavily infused with stones of all sizes set within a thin topsoil, conditions which create excellent drainage and provide a setting for wines to express an intense minerality. An exceptional amount of sunlight, long summers and minimal precipitation create ideal conditions for growing ripe and healthy grapes.

Caloz with grapes textured background of dirt

Conrad Caloz, son of Fernand, now manages the affairs of the estate with his wife Anne-Carole. Since 2013 they have been joined by their eldest daughter Sandrine.

Within the appellation of Coteaux de Sierre, there are two distinct vineyard sites recognized for producing superior quality. Caloz has planted his vineyards to a wide range of grapes of local origin. “La Mourzière” is a terraced slope that produces wines of finesse and elegance. Due to the steep slope of the hill, the vineyards are exclusively on terraces that are supported by man-made stone walls. Within “La Mourziere”, Caloz’s parcels are planted to Fendant (Chasselas), Petite Arvine and Humagne rouge. The other special site, “Les Bernunes”, is located on the high slopes sitting between the villages of Sierre and Salquenen. “Les Bernunes” was the first vineyard cited in the ancient historical records of the Valais region. This micro-climate, influenced by its position in a concave bowl in the slope, allows for age-worthy wines of structure and balance, as well as late-harvest delicacies. Here, Caloz has planted the Savagnin grape, known locally as Heida-Paien, and the Cornalin.

Caloz’s Gamay comes from an ancient vineyard called “Les Fontanettes” which sits above the town of Miege. Soils here are poor and limestone-dominated, full of stones with the hard limestone very close to the surface. Sandrine works her vineyards without the use of chemicals, and harvest is always entirely by hand. In the cellar, fermentation begins naturally, inside the grapes, and pressing is done toward the end of fermentation (a classic semi-carbonic maceration). Fermentation and aging take place in stainless steel, and without extreme temperature regulation. Sulfur is only applied after malolactic fermentation is complete—neither on the grapes, nor at bottling—and then only a homeopathic dose.

Farming

Practicing biodynamic, certified organic by BioSuisse since 2017, sustainable production since 1989 (founder of Vitival sustainable certification organization)

Treatments

Copper-sulfate and biodynamic preparations

Ploughing

Annual hoeing to maintain vineyard health with much grass growth tolerated

Soils

Limestone

Vines

Average vine age 20 years, older vines 45 years. Planted at 7,400 vines/ha and trained in Guyot.

Yields

Controlled through severe winter pruning, debudding, and an occasional green harvest

Harvest

Entirely manual, usually late September

PURCHASING

Entirely estate fruit

Fermentation

Wines ferment spontaneously in stainless-steel tanks. Red wines see destemming and a 1-2-day cold soak (Pi- not Noir ferments with c. 20% whole clusters). Cuvaison lasts c. 2 weeks.

Extraction

Red wines see pumpovers during cuvaison. White wines see bâtonnage only to counter reduction.

Chaptalization

Chaptalization only in rare cases for Humagne Rouge wine

Pressing

Pneumatic pressing

PRESS WINE

Whole-cluster, direct pneumatic pressing for white wines, pneumatic pressing for red wines

Malolactic Fermentation

Spontaneous, following alcoholic fermentations for reds. Malolactic blocked via temperature and sulfur for whites.

Élevage

Wines age for 6-9 months in stainless-steel tanks.

LEeS

Wines remain on their fine lees until assemblage prior to bottling.

FINING & FILTRATION

Wines are unfined. Red wines are unfiltered; white wines are plate filtered.

SULFUR

Applied only if necessary: after malolactic for red wines and after alcoholic fermentation for white wines

Farming

Practicing biodynamic, certified organic by BioSuisse since 2017, sustainable production since 1989 (founder of Vitival sustainable certification organization)

Treatments

Copper-sulfate and biodynamic preparations

Ploughing

Annual hoeing to maintain vineyard health with much grass growth tolerated

Soils

Limestone

Vines

Average vine age 20 years, older vines 45 years. Planted at 7,400 vines/ha and trained in Guyot.

Yields

Controlled through severe winter pruning, debudding, and an occasional green harvest

Harvest

Entirely manual, usually late September

PURCHASING

Entirely estate fruit

Fermentation

Wines ferment spontaneously in stainless-steel tanks. Red wines see destemming and a 1-2-day cold soak (Pi- not Noir ferments with c. 20% whole clusters). Cuvaison lasts c. 2 weeks.

Extraction

Red wines see pumpovers during cuvaison. White wines see bâtonnage only to counter reduction.

Chaptalization

Chaptalization only in rare cases for Humagne Rouge wine

Pressing

Pneumatic pressing

PRESS WINE

Whole-cluster, direct pneumatic pressing for white wines, pneumatic pressing for red wines

Malolactic Fermentation

Spontaneous, following alcoholic fermentations for reds. Malolactic blocked via temperature and sulfur for whites.

Élevage

Wines age for 6-9 months in stainless-steel tanks.

Lees

Wines remain on their fine lees until assemblage prior to bottling.

Fining & Filtration

Wines are unfined. Red wines are unfiltered; white wines are plate filtered.

Sulfur

Applied only if necessary: after malolactic for red wines and after alcoholic fermentation for white wines

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