Not just a wine, but a piece of land…
Les Sentes? The Petit Robert dictionary defines a “sente” as a short path, much like the one that weaves through this vineyard in Sierre.
But the word also evokes the “scents” of the first buds, of ripe grapes or a precious wine.
It all started in Réchy, when Lucie, the mother, made a few bottles of her own wine. In 1985 she sold her first vintage. Serge was the next person to catch the winemaking bug, and set up what is now the Cave Les Sentes, where he has worked for nearly 30 years alongside his wife and their loyal colleagues.
The cellar, which is run as a family concern, is constantly adapting and improving. Its owners spare no effort to keep their customers happy. The five-acre winemaking estate is spread across the municipalities of Sierre, Crans-Montana, Veyras, Venthône and Miège.
It was the parish priest, Hermann Salamin, who laid the foundations for the building that hosts the Cave Les Sentes today. The charm of the original carnotzet was preserved during the reconversion in 1999, along with its old larch beams and large fireplace.
The cellar uses modern steel vats as well as wooden barrels to mature its wine. Traditional grape varieties are given star billing, as they are symbolic of the family’s history and its roots in winemaking. The wines on offer cover a broad range of indigenous grape varieties, including Rèze, the regional wine par excellence.
Welcome to the Cave Les Sentes, where wine is a shared discovery.
Cellar opening hours:
– Any day, if phoning in advance
– Every Saturday between 10am and midday