NEZ NOIR
THE FIRST ORGANIC WINE OF THE ROUVINEZ FAMILY
Sheep in our vineyards
The story
To preserve our estates and constantly apply the most advanced growing methods, we began the transition to organic viticulture a few years ago.
In 2019, we launched ‘NEZ NOIR’, our first wine to carry the ‘organic in reconversion’ label. This red wine is a blend of grapes from the Crêta Plan estate in Sierre and Clos St. Marcel in Grône. These two vineyards have the advantage of not being very steep, which makes it easier to work the soil mechanically. They are also relatively isolated, which reduces the risk of contamination from neighbours.
In the cellar, we have taken care to work the grapes in the most natural way possible, so that the original aromas of the grape varieties that make it up, merlot, gamaret and syrah, can express themselves.
In April 2018, during the first tasting of the 2017 vintage, the aromas were intense and the concentrations were optimal. The wine was very powerful. At the time, we thought it deserved a few months in barrel so that it could improve further and gain in ageing potential. This has now been done, and we are delighted to present you with a racy, well-balanced red wine that will go well with a wide range of dishes and atmospheres.
During the 2019 harvest, we bled the “NEZ NOIR” grapes a few hours after they had been put into barrels. This operation involves drawing off part of the must to concentrate the red wine. The volume drawn off is traditionally vinified separately to produce a fresh, fruity rosé wine. This is how “NEZ NOIR ROSE” was born. With its brilliant lychee pink colour, the nose of this rosé opens with a basket of wild berries. Raspberry and strawberry top the list. This fruity freshness is finely coated with exotic notes such as mango and passion fruit. A wonderfully balanced, sapid and juicy wine.
Finally, in 2020, we added a white wine to the Nez Noir range, with the same philosophy as the red and rosé. Freshness, fruit and elegance characterise this blend of Petite Arvine, Heida and Johannisberg. This wine’s remarkable aromatic and lively flavours are perfect as an aperitif or with light, fresh summer meals.
The brand
The name NEZ NOIR is inspired by the Valais breed of sheep of the same name.
Every year, between mid-March and mid-April, we let them graze for some weeks in our vineyards. This facilitates easy soil maintenance in tranquillity and perfect harmony with nature.
Once that work is done and the vines have begun to bud, we relocate the sheep to the rich grassland of Crêtillon near Sierre.
With the arrival of summer, the sheep are taken to their original environment, first to Schweifine at 2300 metres a.s.l. and later to Triftchumme at 2700 metres. It is up there, facing the Matterhorn, in the commune of Zermatt, that they are shorn twice during the alpine season, providing some kilograms of high-quality wool.
the world’s cutest sheep
Just like our famous grape varieties Arvine and Cornalin, the Nez noir du haut Valais is a 100% original Valais race.
Thanks to their strong constitution and their thick wool they adapt perfectly to the extreme weather conditions prevalent in the region. Although their numbers dropped so drastically over the years, today interest in the Nez noir is increasing again. This is certainly the case since the Brits have given it the title “the cutest sheep in the world”. Now, these sheep are exported and can be found in Great Britain, New Zealand and the United States. And, of course, in the vineyards of Clos St. Marcel and Crêta Plan!
The bottle
For our “NEZ NOIR” wines, we have chosen a Burgundy-type bottle which is characterised by its low weight. It uses less glass and therefore less resources and energy in its production.
Moreover, these low-weight bottles are produced at the works of our supplier Vetropack in St-Prex, a fact that considerably reduces the carbon footprint of the transport. And the same is true for the transport of the filled bottles to you: as the bottles are less heavy, our trucks need less fuel.
Our “NEZ NOIR” wines without doubt are among the most eco-friendly in Switzerland.
The adventures of Gérard the shepherd
To follow the adventures of Gérard the shepherd and our Nez Noir sheep, follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Gérard will tell you all about his sheep, wine-making and vineyard work.
@nez_noir
Follow our Nez Noir sheep and Gérard the shepherd through the seasons.
From the sheepfold to our vineyards, via Zermatt, every time of year is different for our dear companions.
Taste them
