Master Barrel - John & Mike Favre
Petite Arvine “Mélèze” Project
In 2012, Jon Favre, with his family’s longstanding history with the Petite Arvine varietal, and Sébastien Gavillet, a Swiss winemaker driven by the vision to craft a distinctive wine, embarked on the Master Barrel, Mike & John Favre Petite Arvine - Mélèze Heritage Project in the breathtaking wine region of Valais, Switzerland. Their goal was ambitious: to revive a nearly lost ancient winemaking technique using larch wood barrels for aging Petite Arvine, a grape variety revered for its vibrant flavor and aromatic complexity, using the oldest Petite Arvine vines in the world.
The choice of larch wood, indigenous to the Alpine regions and known for its aromatic resin and robust character, was deliberate. It promised to introduce a spectrum of flavors that could enhance the innate qualities of the Petite Arvine grape. This method of aging wine in larch wood barrels had not been practiced with Petite Arvine grapes probably for over a millennium, making their project a pioneering venture in modern viticulture.*
Jon and Sebastien introduced an innovative approach to selecting grapes for their wine. They decided to utilize grapes only in vintages affected by botrytis rot, a condition typically seen as a detriment to winemakers, without allowing it to transform the wine into a sweet variant. This approach was expected to add a unique depth and character to the wine, striking a balance between the natural challenge of botrytis rot and the art of winemaking.
In 2016, the conditions aligned perfectly for their first harvest. The grapes were carefully pressed, and the juice was then transferred into custom-made larch wood barrels for aging. This process was not just about aging the wine but transforming it, infusing each bottle with the essence of the Alpine environment, including the unique properties of larch wood and the terroir of Valais.
The resulting product, named “Petite Arvine - Mélèze” in homage to the larch wood (Mélèze being French for larch), transcended being merely a wine. It became a bridge across time, offering winelovers a taste of history with each sip. The wine is released as a limited edition, representing a labor of love and a deep commitment to Swiss heritage.
More about John & Mike Favre, please visit www.petite-arvine.com
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*Larch wood has been used in other red wine projects in recent years.