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What is the significance of assemblages in the assortment of the Adrian & Diego Mathier Nouveau Salquenen AG winery?

Assemblages hold as much significance in the assortment of the best Swiss winery of the decade as single-variety wines. Even though different grape varieties from various vineyards are blended together, this does not imply that these masterpieces are of lower quality. On the contrary, crafting a perfect assemblage is a high art. The value of such an artwork is also evident in the fact that, at Switzerland's best winery of 2018, 2011, and 2007, Diego Mathier himself, as the winemaker with a fine nose, has crafted numerous assemblages that have outshone the competition at international and national wine awards. Repeated titles as Swiss Champion or Best Assemblage Worldwide are both an expression and recognition of the highest and most perfect craftsmanship in the art of creating assemblages. 

What does assemblage mean in art?

In art, the term "assemblage" refers to an artistic technique or style where three-dimensional objects, often everyday items or found objects, are assembled into a collage or a unified artwork. Artists use a variety of materials, from wood and metal to found objects and everyday items, to create a new, often abstract composition. The term derives from the French word "assembler," which means "to assemble." This art form gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly through artists like Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp. This creative approach allows artists to challenge conventional notions of art and materiality by incorporating everyday items into the artistic context, thereby creating new meanings and perspectives.

What does assemblage mean in winemaking?

In winemaking, the term "assemblage" refers to the blending or combining of different wines or grape varieties to create a final wine. It can involve not only different grape varieties but also wines from different vineyards and vintages, skillfully blended by the winemaker into a multidimensional symphony of flavors. While the German term "Verschnitt" often has a negative connotation, the practice actually results in outstanding top-quality wines.

This practice is commonly used in regions where multiple grape varieties are cultivated, to craft wines with complex aromas and flavor profiles. Assemblage allows winemakers to combine the unique characteristics of different grape varieties to produce a balanced and harmonious wine.

In many wine regions, particularly in France, assemblage plays a key role. For example, in Champagne, different grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier are often blended to achieve the characteristic taste and style of Champagne. The goal of assemblage is to harness the strengths of the individual components while balancing any weaknesses to create a high-quality wine.  

What is the difference between an assemblage and a cuvée?

The word "cuvée" originates from the French vocabulary and translates to "vat" or "tank." In France, however, the term cuvée is not exclusively used for blending different wines. Rather, it is a general term for any wine bottled from a vat, regardless of whether it is a blend of various grape varieties from different vineyards or a single-variety wine from a single vineyard. Outside of France, "cuvée" typically refers to a wine that is a combination of several grape varieties or vineyards. This combination is also known as an assemblage, blend, coupage, mix, or marriage. Depending on the region, different terms are used, but they ultimately mean the same thing. It’s also important to note that these terms are not legally defined anywhere and do not indicate the quality of the wine. 

Why is crafting an assemblage in winemaking similar to creating an assemblage in art?

Indeed, there are many similarities between an assemblage in winemaking and an assemblage in visual art. Essentially, the winemaker also acts as an artist. Like an artist, the winemaker utilizes various materials or objects—in this case, different grape varieties. Just as in painting, for example with Picasso, the winemaker as an artist blends different grape varieties to create new masterpieces that also reflect the artist's (the winemaker's) personal style. From the combination and interplay of different grape varieties, the winemaker creates, with each assemblage, something akin to a collage, much like artists create three-dimensional assemblages from various objects, shapes, and materials paired with unique techniques.

Is crafting an assemblage in winemaking an ancient or modern art?

Crafting an assemblage is not a modern or new art form. Rather, it is an ancient art. The practice of blending wines has a long history that dates back many centuries. The origin of this technique is not precisely documented, as it developed over time and independently in various wine regions. However, it is known that ancient cultures, including the Romans, engaged in blending different grape varieties from various vineyards to improve the quality and taste of their wines. In France, particularly in the Bordeaux region, the art of blending has a long tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Wines from Bordeaux are often the result of complex assemblages of grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. This form of winemaking mirrors the creation of a collage—artworks in which different materials are interpreted in a new and often modern way when combined. 

Are there other similarities between art and winemaking?

Yes, just as Picasso was influenced and inspired by his environment, a winemaker is similarly inspired by their surroundings when crafting assemblages. Personal taste, individual style, and external factors such as soil composition, grape variety, climate, and vineyard location fundamentally influence which grape varieties are combined and in what proportions to create an assemblage—in art, one would call it a collage. The finished product is then presented by the winemaker, much like an artist, in an exhibition. While an artist might showcase their works in a gallery, a winemaker uses their winery, trade fairs, wine dinners, or other platforms to present their wines as liquid artworks.