Introduction: Dôle red wine AOC Valais
This wine is, of course, just one of the many excellent red wines from the Valais that we offer. In our online shop, you will also find a wide selection of white wines, rosé wines, sparkling wines and digestifs. If you are looking for a gift, we recommend, for example, the various tasting boxes from our gift service or a gift voucher that allows the recipient to choose freely from our online shop.
Walliser Dôle (wine)
There is no grape variety called Dôle. The name ‘Dôle’ was given to the Gamay grape variety from the French town of Dole (Jura department) by the Geneva botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in the early 19th century. The first vines were brought to Valais in 1850. The name ‘Dôle’, originally associated with the Gamay grape variety, later came to be used more for Pinot Noir (also known as Blauburgunder) before the name was definitively applied to the Valais fusion of both varieties.
Dôle red wine – the Salgescher from hell
Anyone who loves wine knows the Valais Dôle. A wine that no restaurant or retailer's shelf should be without. It is harvested and vinified as an AOC Valais wine only in Valais. The Dôle was made in Salgesch – now it is experiencing a rebirth.
Dôle – the most famous red wine in Switzerland
The name ‘Dôle’ is reserved for what is probably Switzerland's most famous red wine. Dôle is a red blend (a combination of different red wine varieties or sites or vintages) – until 2021, the Dôle AOC Valais was required to have a grape variety ratio of at least 85 per cent Pinot Noir and Gamay.
Dôle – with a new recipe since April 2021
At the request of the Interprofession du Vin Valaisan (the Valais wine industry association), the Valais State Council amended the recipe in April 2021. It accepted the industry association's proposal to lower the Pinot noir and Gamay content to 51 per cent. However, the Pinot noir must continue to predominate in this unique blend. This gives winemakers more freedom in the blend.
And at the same time promotes other red grape varieties (Syrah, Humagne rouge and Cornalin). Another reason for the new recipe is the changing tastes of younger consumers. The new regulation leaves it up to wine producers to choose whether to maintain the previous recipe or adapt it to the new criteria from the 2021 vintage onwards.
Dôle – under strict supervision
The Valais law prescribes a minimum must weight of 83° Oechsle and yield limits of 0.8 kg per m2 or 0.86 litres per m2 for the Dôle or Pinot noir AOC du Valais, and 91.9° Oechsle and 0.8 kg per m2 or 0 .64 litres per square metre. All grape varieties of the Dôle Grand Cru meet the requirements of Valais red wines in the Grand Cru category.
Dôle – the Salgesch hellish brew
Legend tells the story of knights who once visited the Brothers of St. John in Salgesch. They were offered wine from their own vines. It was so good that some of them were too thirsty. When the gentlemen wanted to leave again, they no longer knew which way their horses were facing. They were amazed and asked: ‘What kind of wine did you give us? It's like real hell wine.’ That's how hell wine got its name.
Dôle – the Pinot Noir hell-blood of Adrian and Diego Mathier
The sun-drenched vineyard of the municipality of Salgesch, where our Dôle ‘Sang de l'enfer’ comes from, is registered in the land registry as ‘hell’ – one of the very best vineyards in the wine-growing village of Salgesch. The soils, which are rich in calcium and magnesium, provide the optimal basis for cultivating Pinot Noir.
Lower yields and an average sugar content of 81° Oechsle are prerequisites for the Dôle de Salquenen. The extended fermentation undergoes optimal temperature control and processing in the tank for 6 months.
The flavour profile of Dôle AOC Valais
The Pinot noir grape variety gives the ‘Sang de l'enfer’ the necessary breed, nobility and inimitable bouquet, while the Gamay grape variety, on the other hand, is responsible for the fruitiness and structure of this elegant red wine.
Enjoyment and storage
The Dôle scores with the combination of flavours from the two grape varieties in combination with different dishes and goes well with a wide range of occasions. It is an excellent accompaniment to white meat dishes such as poultry.
However, due to its delicacy and freshness, it is also a great match for veal and pork, which makes it a discovery for many people. It is also excellent with cold cuts, specialities from the Valais such as mountain cheese and dried meat specialities. The wine is equally good with dishes such as pasta in sauce or heartier brewery dishes.
Like all other wines, it should be stored at a constant cool temperature of 10 to 15° Celsius. A dark place is recommended to prevent premature ageing of the Dôle due to light.
Interesting facts about the Valais Dôle
Is Dôle a grape variety?
No, Dôle is not a grape variety in its own right. As with the white Johannisberg, it is just a wine name. The Dôle is a cuvée made from the red wine varieties Gamay and Pinot Noir.
Is Dôle Blanche a white wine?
No, Dôle Blanche is a typical rosé wine from the canton of Valais, made from the same grape varieties as Dôle. Unlike a red wine, however, it is pressed immediately, i.e. the maceration time is very short. For this reason, this wine has only a hint of pink colouring.
What kind of wine is Dôle?
Dôle is both a fruity and a noble red wine. It owes its racy, noble character and pronounced bouquet to the Pinot Noir grape. And the Gamay grape refines the blend on the palate with its typical notes of fruity aromas and inimitable robustness.