Valentina Andrei is a natural wine producer based in Saillon, Valais, Switzerland, originally from Botosani,northern Romania, where she grew up among farmers with vines. Her passion for winemaking led her toSwitzerland, where she discovered the steep, terraced vineyards of Valais. She trained in oenology atChâteauneuf and Changins, working with biodynamic pioneers Marion and Jacques Granges at Domaine deBeudon and as cellar master for Marie-Thérèse Chappaz in Fully for four years. In 2012, Valentina establishedher own winery, starting with a small garage in Saillon and one hectare of vines. By 2014, her first vintageincluded four wines and 5,000 bottles, and she has since expanded to 4 hectares across Martigny, Grimisuat,Leytron, Sion, and Fully (plots like Les Bans, Combe de Noutse, Combe d’Enfer, Chargeux, Seilles, Carroz). Herpreferred grape varieties include Chasselas, Petite Arvine, Païen (Heida/Savagnin), Roussanne, Gamay,Humagne Blanche, Humagne Rouge, Cornalin, Syrah, Completer, Merlot, and Mondeuse.

Valentina’s approach is deeply biodynamic and minimal-intervention. She farms organically, avoiding syntheticchemicals, using herbal teas, essential oils, silica, and lunar calendar guidance without dogmatism. Vines areworked entirely by hand on steep, granite-heavy slopes (e.g., Le Salo, Comballes, Plan Cerisier) with nomechanization. She practices strict grape sorting during manual harvests. In the cellar, she employsspontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, no fining, no filtration, and minimal sulfites (e.g., 90 mg/L forher 2013 Roussanne-Petite Arvine blend). Wines are vinified in small 300–400L oak or stainless steel tanks, withsome undergoing malolactic fermentation or extended maceration (e.g., 3 weeks for reds). Her portfolio includessingle-varietal and blended cuvées like Ivresse (Petite Arvine and Merlot), Calcaire Petite Arvine, Combe deNoutse Gamay, Les Bans Chasselas, Selena, Belle Usine Petite Arvine, Completer, Humagne Blanche,and Mondeuse, noted for their elegance, minerality, and vibrant fruit (e.g., grapefruit, black fruits, peony, iris).Production remains small, with limited bottles (e.g., 60 bottles of Humagne Blanche allocated to Hong Kong),making her wines rare and sought-after. In 2018, she was named Gault&Millau’s rookie winemaker, and by 2019,she ranked among Switzerland’s top 125 producers. She collaborates with her partner, Nicolas Wüst, on theIvresse line under their De Ciel et Terre project, with labels designed by artist Pierre Zufferey.