Have you ever heard of Servagnin ?
If that doesn’t ring a bell, don’t panic! This is a very rare Swiss grape variety…
It was introduced to the Morges region 600 years ago by Marguerite de Bourgogne and was the first Pinot Noir to be grown in Switzerland (making Morges the oldest Pinot Noir vineyard in Switzerland!).
It is also known as Salvagnin, Sauvagnin or Servignier.
It grows well in the canton, yet this grape variety has a reputation for being difficult and temperamental. In the 1960s, winegrowers gradually opted for other varieties such as Pinot Noir or Gamay, almost causing it to disappear.
Using the last two existing vines in St-Prex, the cradle and land of its ancestors, passionate winegrowers in our region have continued to perpetuate this grape variety. They have partially restored the old vineyards and are working to restore the grape variety to its former glory under the name Servagnin de Morges.
To be entitled to the Servagnin de Morges appellation, the vines must be planted with Pinot noir Salvagnin clone and located in the Morges appellation area.
Servagnin de Morges (c) Lilla Fülöp
Key facts :
History and origins of Servagnin
- Date of arrival in Switzerland : Around 1420
- Origin : Burgundy, France
- Main growing region : Morges, Vaud
Characteristics of Servagnin
- Type of grape variety : Pinot Noir
- Aromas : Red fruit (cherries, raspberries), floral and spicy notes
- On the palate : Balanced, elegant, with a long finish.
- Food & wine pairing : Red meats, mature cheeses, dishes in sauce
The bottles of Servagnin from our twenty or so producers are identical for all the winemakers, except for the cellar logo on the bottom of the label.
???? Did you know? It only goes on sale on 1ᵉʳ April of the 2ᵉ year !
Which aromas?
Each vintage and each producer gives the wine its own unique character !
But expect an expressive bouquet of red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, with peppery notes and hints of toast due to barrel ageing. This variety produces wines with good acidity and silky tannins.
Today, this Swiss grape variety is once again attracting interest: numerous wine experts such as Adrian van Velsen have studied Servagnin and tasted no fewer than 14 from the 2022 vintage :
Here’s what he thinks of ours :
Servagnin de Morges (c) Lilla Fülöp
” Expressive nose, blackberries, cherries, bergamot, violets, great freshness; round on the palate, crisp fruit, very fine, silky tannins, woven with the fruit, wonderfully balanced, long on the palate.
A magnificent Pinot with great ageing potential!
2024-2038. 93 vvPoints
Adrian van Velsen – Traducted from German
Discover our 2020, 2021 and 2022 vintages and embark on a vertical tasting, a real journey through time. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to try Servagnin, the same cuvée, through different years and appreciate its evolution over time.
Our Servagnin
Servagnin Grand Cru Cave de La Côte
75cl / from CHF 22.00