About this wine
Domherrenwein — "Canon's Wine" in German — takes its name from the cathedral canons, the high-ranking clerics who historically held great influence in the Valais. The name is a nod to the long tradition of viticulture overseen by the church in this alpine canton, and it belongs to Provins' prestigious Les Grands Dignitaires range, a selection that honours centuries of Valaisan winemaking heritage.
The 2023 vintage benefited from excellent conditions in the Valais — a warm, dry summer with cool nights that preserved natural acidity, resulting in a wine with good freshness and aromatic clarity typical of a well-made Fendant.
The Fendant grape (Chasselas)
Fendant is the Valaisan name for Chasselas, Switzerland's most planted white grape and one of the oldest cultivated varieties in Europe. Outside Switzerland it is relatively rare, making Swiss Fendant a genuinely unique wine experience.
The grape is prized not for bold fruit flavours but for its ability to reflect its terroir — the minerals in the soil, the angle of the slope, the altitude. A good Fendant is dry, light to medium-bodied, and carries a subtle natural pétillance (light fizz from residual CO₂) that gives it freshness without acidity.
Tasting profile
Nose: Delicate white flowers, lime blossom,
a whisper of green apple and fresh almond.
Palate: Dry and clean, with gentle citrus,
pear, and a characteristic stony mineral finish. Light natural pétillance adds vivacity.
Finish: Medium length, refreshing, with a
flinty, chalky aftertaste that is the hallmark of quality Fendant.
About the Valais
The Valais (Wallis in German) is Switzerland's largest and sunniest wine-growing canton, carved by the Rhône valley between two rows of Alpine peaks. The combination of intense summer sunshine, very low rainfall — some areas receive less than 600 mm per year — and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings creates ideal conditions for wine of character.
Vines are cultivated on steep terraced slopes at altitudes up to 1,000 metres, often maintained by hand. The Fendant AOC designation guarantees the wine is 100% Chasselas grown within the canton and meets strict quality standards.
About Provins
Founded in Sion in 1930, Provins is one of the largest and most respected wine cooperatives in Switzerland, uniting hundreds of Valaisan winegrowers. For nearly a century it has remained the custodian of traditional Valaisan winemaking, setting the standard for Fendant and other indigenous varieties.
The Les Grands Dignitaires range sits at the top of the Provins portfolio — wines crafted to represent the finest expression of each variety, named in tribute to the historical figures who shaped the Valais.
Food pairings
Fendant is the traditional companion to the great dishes of the Valais and beyond: