The future of viticulture in Valais is important to us. That is why we took part in an innovative pilot project by the startup ValAgri GmbH this fall.
Behind the project are the two agronomists Elias Elmiger and our son Luc Mounir. They had a grape harvester further developed and adapted specifically for the challenging conditions in Valais. Thanks to a cable winch, the machine can operate safely even on steep slopes. Shaking rods detach the grapes from the vine, and the berries are collected. The machine also offers advantages: It helps break up harvest peaks and makes optimal use of the increasingly shorter harvest windows, ensuring that each plot is harvested at the perfect moment. In extreme heat, harvesting can also take place at night, so that the grapes arrive at the cellar cool and fresh.
When young entrepreneurs boldly break new ground with plenty of ideas, we want to support them. That’s why it quickly became clear to us: We’ll make a select number of plots—both on flat and steep terrain—available for mechanical harvesting. Of course, careful hand-picking remains at the heart of our work, and this will continue to be the case on most of our land.
There was a great deal of interest in the project, and in addition to our winery, other vineyards participated and inspected the machine on site. A portion of the machine-harvested grapes is vinified separately. This allows us to closely observe how the harvesting method affects the wine and to gain valuable experience for the entire Valais region.
We are proud that the pioneering spirit lives on in our family. We have followed this project with great curiosity and are convinced that these two young entrepreneurs will make an important contribution to the further development of viticulture in Valais. We look forward to keeping you updated.
Sandra & Olivier
