Dôle - a traditional Swiss blend which combines the elegance and body of Pinot Noir with the fruitiness and structure of Gamay.

Dôle is to Valais reds what Fendant is to white - a staple offering in the region. Skiers in the Valais are equally likely to have come across this wine as they are to have encountered Fendant.

If you're going to drink a red with Swiss melted cheese dishes like raclette or fondue, make it Dôle.

Serving Suggestions:

In Depth:

Dôle is a well known Valaisian red wine, not a grape variety as such, rather a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay (and occasionally with a very small percentage of other grapes). To qualify as Dôle, natural sugar levels in the constituent grapes must pass certain levels. However, within this simple definition there is a wide variety of offerings. The ratio of the two varieties varies from 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Gamay through to 100% Pinot Noir. Generally speaking, the wines with higher proportions of Pinot Noir are better and as we follow the river Rhône westwards towards Lake Geneva, the proportion of Pinot Noir gradually decreases. Also, since 1993 growers have been allowed to add 10% of other grape types. There is speculation as to whether this is a good thing with optimists contending that the addition of varieties such as Syrah will improve overall quality - time will tell. Dôle can vary in quality from a light insipid confected wine right through to lovely complex and long lasting examples - serious stuff indeed. The best examples are from the area around Chamoson and Sierre.

tasting notes:

The blend brings harmony and balance. It is very light red in colour. It has a complex nose of cherries, raspberries, strawberries and spices which also come through on the palate. Medium-bodied, smooth and easy drinking. The Pinot brings finesse and earthiness while the Gamay brings fruit and structure. This wine has complex fruit aromas and is rich with spicy notes with a long finish. It is an intriguing wine as it does not taste like a Pinot Noir or a Gamay. It has its own unique identity and the two grape varieties pair well.