The Wine Family
Mathier
Origins
The Mathier family has its roots in the Rhone Valley. The family decided to settle in Salquenen and was first officially recorded in 1387, which is the date we recognise as our debut in Valais.
Valais
Before joining the Swiss Federation in 1815 as a canton, it operated as an independent republic. The Valais is the third-largest canton of Switzerland, and though it is mainly known for its many over 4000 m peaks, including the picturesque Matterhorn, the region offers an ideal climate for viticulture. Barely separated from the Piedmont and Burgundy wine regions, Valais offers a dry climate, rich soils and sunshine, which make the region ideal for cultivating wines. Wine agriculture to this day constitutes one of the biggest economic sectors for the Valais.
...and Wine
Dating back to Roman times, wine making and consumption has been a quintessential part of life in Valais. Over thousands of years, Valais producers have developed their best practices, allowing them to cultivate world-class wines, despite the difficult terrain. The Mathier family has always been involved in wine culture, but generally credits my great-great grandfather Ferdinand Mathier with our direct contact with the process. He was a vineyard inspector in Salquenen and helped uphold the high standards of wine production in Valais.
Rosmarie and Adrian
In 1929, the world was faced with a devastating economic situation: the effects of the Great Depression reached even the most remote villages in the Valais. Following some drastic changes in the wine control industry, the family discovered the acute need to store and control the wines in the region themselves, and opened up a great cellar in Salquenen. This was cultivated by my grandparents, Rosmarie and Adrian Mathier, who gained national presence for their innovative approach to wine making and distribution.
and their sons:
Pierre-Alain, Yvo & Diego
Continuing in their parents' footsteps, the three sons each continued our family tradition in wines. Pierre-Alain (my father) remains involved through Domaines de Virets, Le Muzot and Vins et Vignobles Julius. My uncles Yvo and Diego run their own wineries: Fin Bec and Nouveau Salquenen respectively.
me: Adeline
In 2011, I received the greatest honour at my First Communion: my grandparents and father gave me stewardship of the family's longest-possessed vineyard. At this moment, it became my duty to partake in, shape and evolve the Mathier family legacy.
