Lucas Madonia

The Vineyard

The adventure in Valais began at the end of 2021, expanding to 1 hectare in 2022, 1.7 hectares in 2023, and 1.5 hectares in 2024. What will 2025 bring? The vineyards are located in and around Ayent, situated between 600 and 850 meters above sea level.

The soil composition is diverse, including schists, limestone, loess, quartz, clays, and more. The terraced nature of the vineyard makes mechanization impossible. Grass is managed with a backpack brush cutter, and organic treatments (less than 1kg copper per hectare) are applied using a backpack atomizer. The harvest is carried out manually, with grapes being transported on the shoulder.

Winemaking

In the Burgundian tradition, each vineyard produces a unique cuvée. Destemming is done by hand, and macerations average 25 days. Aging occurs in old Burgundy barrels ranging from 228L to 600L. Whites are pressed on harvest day and transferred into 400L barrels. Bottling in August is done by gravity directly from the barrel, with a pump used only once a year during pressing. All vintages are crafted without additives or sulfites.

Lucas Madonia, a winemaker from Burgundy with experience in the Jura region, has found a new home in the Swiss Alps. Managing 1.7 hectares of vineyards in Ayent near Sion, he brings youthful energy and a fresh perspective to winemaking in this stunning alpine locale. Combining his Burgundian roots with diverse experiences, Lucas creates wines that blend tradition and innovation. His commitment to purity in winemaking results in wines that capture the essence of this unique terroir, adhering to a 0/0 philosophy—no additives and no sulfur.