Meet our winemakers...
Cave du Signal: THe winery & the winemaker
The Cave du Signal winery is small – just two hectares with five grape varieties in two neighboring villages (Echichens and Monnaz) – and yet 15 wines are made here. Its owner is a young, creative, and dynamic perfectionist – Lionel Widmer – who stands out for his unusual drive and spirit.
Lionel took over the cellar in 2017 from part of the Cruchon family, major wine producers in this area. He brought 10 years of rich experience to the new venture, having trained at wineries in Switzerland, France (Alsace is where he became acquainted with biodynamic winemaking) and the United States. He taught at Marcelin, a post-secondary training center for vineyard and cellar workers, and he later managed the school’s vineyards.
Keeping with Tradition
Cave du Signal is one of 14 cellars that belong to Arte Vinis, a group of wineries in Vaud that work creatively to produce excellent wines in the tradition of the canton’s best.
The grapes
The vineyards are densely planted and worked lightly by machine, but all pruning and harvesting is done entirely by hand. A specialist in terroir wines following biodynamic principles, Lionel is a philosopher with strong views about society, consumption and maintaining balance in nature; the winery was certified organic in 2019 and Demeter biodynamic certified in 2020. To help wine lovers interested in his work, he created a series of podcasts (in French), about each wine.
our hand-selected white wine
from
Cave du Signal
Chasselas Arenaz La Cote
Wine profile
The vines grow in the vine parcel of the same name, at the top of the village of Echichens, high above Lake Geneva. The clay-limestone soil here gives refreshing wines that are round, fresh and mineral.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic cultivation, natural production in the cellar following organic and biodynamic
methods.
Food pairing
Cheeses and lake fish.
our hand-selected red wine
from
Cave du Signal
Garanoir La Cote
Wine profile
Nose of black cherries. In mouth, crisp even crunchy fruit, delicate and elegant. Low acidity is one of the features of this grape, which is often used in blends—in this case it’s a pleasure wine with good fruit meant to be enjoyed with close friends.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic and organic cultivation, densely planted to bring out the fruit of the Garanoir grape. The vines are on the es Raissenes vine parcel, where the soil is heavier and the grapes are slower to ripen, which adds to the fruitiness and fullness of the grapes. Large bunches, very juicy grapes. Natural production (no intrants) in the cellar and spontaneous fermentation.
Food pairing
Grilled foods, light shared meals.
Cultivation Method
Cave du Signal uses only natural treatments. No chemical products. Leaf-thinning and harvesting are done manually, harvest yields are strictly limited.
