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Fendant

About this grape variety

Chasselas is considered by some to be a specifically Swiss grape, or at least to have come from the Lake Geneva region, but one thing is certain: nowhere else produces Chasselas wines of such subtlety and complexity.

An early and vigorous plant, Chasselas is noted for its ability to adapt to many soils and micro-climates, expressing to the full the subtle particularity of each terroir.

Chasselas is the perfect aperitif wine, sometimes slightly fizzy and always light and airy. Appreciated at all social occasions

 

Information

  • Nose

    Floral aspect tending towards lime tree; can be fruity with a mineral character (flint, hazelnut) due to the terroir. This calls to mind the vineyard in flower, dry, gently crumbly, expresses the various terroirs well.

  • Palate

    Often very slightly bubbly, always playful, light and easy to drink, all of which makes it the perfect aperitif wine and just right for any occasion when people get together. The fruit tends towards lemon or well-ripened apple.

  • Origin

    It is called Fendant in Valais because of a particular feature of the ripe grape: the skin and pulp melt when pressed gently between fingers. The wine’s popularity rose dramatically in the middle of the 19th century thanks to government support. Today it is the second most planted grape variety, after Pinot Noir. It is French-speaking Switzerland’s most characteristic wine.

Fendant

768 ha out of 4675 ha, or 16.42%

Tasting profile

Fruity

Floral

Light

Soft

Dry

Not sweet

295 wine producers cultivate this grape variety

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Etymology

The name Fendant refers to a type of Chasselas whose berries split (as opposed to spurt) when squeezed between the fingers.

wine cellar(s)

Taste this grape variety

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Vionnaz

17 wines from this cellar

Beltrami & Fils

The signature wines of this cellar are the Pinot and Gamay rosé "Liserose", Pinot Blanc en barrique “Les Folies” and the red blend "Harmonie".

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Brig

17 wines from this cellar

Vin du Mur

With over two and a half hectares of vines, Jean-Pierre Ruff produces 20 kinds of wine of the highest quality from 13 different grape varieties.

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Champlan

12 wines from this cellar

Cave des Landes

All these years, Gilles Balet's main objective has been to produce wines of excellent quality that respect tradition and in a lovely family atmosphere.

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Your tasting profile

Select your favourite type of wine or indicate what you are looking for in a wine and find out which Valais wine is right for you.

apricots, citrus fruits, exotic or red fruits, almonds, etc.Fruity

violet, elder, lime, rose, etc.Floral

low in alcohol, low in tanninsLight

Medium-bodied

intense alcohol, acidity and aromasFull

dominated by acid, which gives the wine a fresh appearanceCrisp

Fresh

without acidity, round, smoothSoft

no residual sugarDry

Semi-sweet

mellow wine, fairly supple, fleshyRich

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