Sustainability & Innovation

Sustainable wine begins in the vineyard

Good wine doesn’t start in the cellar. It starts in the vineyard.

Our vineyards are located in Salgesch in the Valais. Here, many of our vines grow on stony, warm soils. Added to this are plenty of sunshine and the wind from the Rhône Valley that sweeps through the vineyards. These conditions produce concentrated grapes. At the same time, they require careful management of the soil and water.

That’s why we farm our vineyards organically and follow biodynamic principles. Cover crops grow between the rows of vines, protecting the soil and providing nutrients. We do not use mineral fertilizers. Instead, we work with our own worm compost made from organic material.
Animals are also part of this cycle. In some vineyards, Ouessant sheep graze among the vines. They keep the grass short and add natural fertilizer to the soil.

This keeps the soil loose and alive. It can store water more effectively and helps the vines survive the dry summers in Valais. Healthy vineyards produce grapes that reflect their origin.

Sustainability Through the Four-Pillar Approach

Energy and Resources at the Winery

Sustainable viticulture doesn’t end in the vineyard. We also make a point of using energy and resources responsibly throughout our operations.

Part of our electricity comes from our own solar panels. We use this solar power to run part of the winery, from the cellar to the machinery in the vineyard. At the same time, we’re increasingly using electric equipment that operates more quietly and has a lower environmental impact.

We also use water sparingly. With drip irrigation, we can water the vines precisely when needed.

Step by step, we are building a winery that conserves resources while creating optimal conditions for viticulture.

Innovation in the Vineyard

Viticulture is changing. Higher temperatures, longer dry spells, and new diseases are presenting vineyards with new challenges.

That’s why we’re constantly exploring new solutions for the vineyards of tomorrow. One example is the Divico grape variety. It’s more robust and requires significantly less intervention in the vineyard.

We are also exploring new forms of energy production in the vineyard. In a pilot project, we investigated whether vineyard areas could be used simultaneously for electricity generation. The goal is to meaningfully combine agriculture and energy production.

Such projects do not arise from a mere enthusiasm for technology. They stem from the question of how vineyards can continue to produce healthy grapes in the future.

The People Behind the Wine

Sustainability isn’t just about vineyards and technology. It’s also about the people who work at the winery.

A winery can only function when many hands work together. In the spring, the vines are pruned. In the summer, leaf removal follows. In the fall, everyone gathers in the vineyard for the grape harvest.

Many tasks are repeated every year. At the same time, each season brings new decisions. That’s why experience within the team is important. Some team members have known specific plots for many years and know where the soil dries out faster or where the wind blows more strongly through the rows.

Sustainable viticulture therefore also involves treating the people at the winery fairly. This includes job security, long-term teamwork, fair wages, and working conditions that also allow time for family and rest.

After all, good wine isn’t made by vines and soil alone. It’s made by people who bring their knowledge and experience to the vineyard every day.

Sustainability in Wine

What happens in the vineyard is later reflected in the wine.

Grapes from healthy soils ripen more evenly. They retain their natural balance of sugar, acidity, and aroma. This also makes work in the cellar easier.

Many decisions are therefore made right in the vineyard: how much the vines are allowed to grow; when the grapes are harvested; and which plots are vinified separately.

In the cellar, we strive to preserve this character as clearly as possible. The wines should reflect where they were grown.

Salgesch produces wines shaped by sun, wind, and stony soils. Sustainable viticulture helps us bring this very character to the fore.

Discover our organic wines

Questions about the winery?

Questions and suggestions from our customers are very important to us. We welcome all feedback and are grateful for it. This gives us the opportunity to continually improve and better meet the needs of our regular customers. We will get back to you as soon as possible.