43 \ ALTITUDE Since 2013 young winemaker Jérôme Favre has been at the helmof this contemporarywinery. Built in 2006 its central tower features a captivating spiral staircase, with its outer edges serving as a barrel cellar. He says: "As soon as I entered Changins, I knew I didn’t want to be confined to a laboratory. The career of an oenologist engineer never sparked any passion in me. My goal was to find a balance between viticulture and the art of winemaking. Driven by this quest for harmony, I pursued training as a nurseryman, viticulturist, and oenologist." FAMILY AND HARD WORK In his approach, Jérôme Favre practises the values that guided his father Simon when he established the estate (see inset). The importance of family is a cornerstone of his philospohy. The Venthône winemaker is fortunate enough to have the support of his relatives when needed, which provides invaluable strength. At 72, his mother Fabienne, a nurseryman and viticulturist with a diploma from the Higher School of Viticulture in Montagibert, Lausanne, still provides "a lot of help," as Jérôme likes to mention. While he avoids looking too far into the future, it’s possible that one day his sevenyear-old son might take over the family business. TRADITION AND INNOVATION Cave d’Anchettes embodies a remarkable sense of authenticity. "The quality of work done in the vineyard is non-negotiable for me. Everything happens inthefield, not inthecellar," insistsJérôme Favre. Despite this rigorous approach, he remains sceptical about organic certification, although he minimizes the use of chemical treatments as much as possible. Eighty-five percent of his estate is located on the slopes of Noble Contrée, with the remaining 15% in the adjacent communes of Sierre and Crans-Montana. These thirteen hectares yield about 52,000 bottles annually. Among the wines offered are some unexpected varieties, such as Pinotage (which his grandfather imported from South Africa) and Carménère, planted in 2013. These varieties highlight the importance of heritage from three generations of nurserymen. COMMENDABLE MODESTY JérômeFavre does not participate in the traditional open cellar events in Valais every May. Instead, he prefers to welcome visitors by appointment, accommodating around fifteen guests at a time, to ensure the best experience for them. He enjoys taking his time with guests. Most of his clientele comes from the French-speaking cantons and a bit from German-speaking Switzerland. "We have many customers from Vaud, Fribourg, Geneva, and Jura. We’ve known some of them for over 30 years. Some have even moved to Crans-Montana and its region," says Jérôme Favre, whose constant motivation is to continue satisfying his loyal customers. Beyond awards and distinctions (which the winery chooses not to highlight), he is driven by a passion to ensure that the wines bought today will be just as excellent in five to six years fromnow. Here, every bottle ages with grace and elegance. This promise reflects his daily dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, demonstrating a rare modesty in this industry. In short, this type of therapy helps maintain and enhance physical and mental well-being. "Personally, I love skiing and spend entire days on the slopes. In the evening, I use one of our devices" François Praz SIMON, THE FOUNDING FATHER Simon Favre, who passed away in 2012, left a lasting legacy that remains very present at Cave d’Anchettes and in the hearts of his successors. "You raise awine like you raise a child : with love and passion," he used to say, as his son Jérôme recalls. Jérôme always refers to the one who paved the way for him. Simon Favre had a very personal vision of the vineyard and wine, which he defended with conviction. He designed the plans for the Cave d’Anchettes himself. With a diploma in oenology, he then dedicated himself to viticulture and his nursery with the support of his wife. Using his experience to develop his own style of cultivation, he was the first to introduce grape varieties such as Viognier to Switzerland. Describing himself as an "artisan winemaker" he undoubtedly had a passion for doing things to perfection.
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