English
FrançaisIn Sion, Domaine Histoire d’Enfer embodies one of the most contemporary and refined expressions of Valais wine. Founded by François Schmaltzried, Gilles Besse and Jérôme Favre, the domaine produces precise, vibrant and elegant Alpine wines from steep hillsides and demanding parcel-based vinifications.
Domaine Histoire d’Enfer — The Alpine Elegance of Contemporary Valais
Founded in 2008 in Sion, Domaine Histoire d’Enfer has quickly become one of the most remarkable signatures in Valais. Created by François Schmaltzried, Gilles Besse and Jérôme Favre, the domaine embodies a modern, exacting and precise vision of fine Swiss wine.
Its name refers to the steep hillside of Enfer, a sun-drenched and demanding slope whose strength perfectly reflects the spirit of the domaine. Through cuvées produced in limited quantities, Histoire d’Enfer seeks a balance between Valais ripeness, Alpine freshness, mineral tension and precise ageing.
A contemporary reading of Valais, built on precision, hillside freshness and parcel expression. Histoire d’Enfer seeks clean, luminous and deeply individual wines, where the natural richness of the dry Alpine climate is always carried by energy, salinity and elegant textures.
History: a Valais adventure born in 2008
Domaine Histoire d’Enfer was born from a clear ambition: to produce wines in Valais capable of combining technical precision, terroir personality and aromatic clarity. From its creation, the domaine stood out through a rigorous approach, driven by the desire to work the Valais hillsides with exacting standards and attention to detail.
The project brings together complementary personalities, united by a commitment to grape quality, precise vinification and the expression of great Alpine grape varieties. This collective dynamic quickly allowed the domaine to build a strong identity, recognised well beyond Valais.
In a short time, Histoire d’Enfer has established itself as a reference of the new Swiss generation: a rare, discreet, precise and sought-after domaine, whose cuvées stand out for their tension, purity and strong personality.
Terroir: steep slopes, dry Alpine climate and limestone soils
The domaine works with vines located on demanding Valais hillsides, marked by steep slopes, generous sun exposure and a dry Alpine climate. These conditions allow the grapes to reach full ripeness while preserving the freshness essential to the balance of the wines.
The limestone, stony and well-drained soils bring the cuvées a clean frame, a saline sensation and fine energy on the palate. Parcel-based work makes it possible to reveal the nuances specific to each grape variety, each exposure and each soil type.
This combination of sun, altitude, slope and freshness gives the wines of the domaine their distinctive character: aromatic intensity, precise contours, depth without heaviness and a slender finish.
Expression of place: Valais, Sion, steep hillsides, dry Alpine climate, limestone and stony soils, mountain freshness, ripe fruit, flowers, spices, salinity and a tense finish.
Histoire d’Enfer signature: precise, vibrant and elegant wines, with fine aromatic purity, carefully shaped textures and a clear Alpine expression.
Viticulture and vinification: manual work and parcel precision
The terraced vines are worked with strong manual precision, respecting the soils, natural balances and the ripeness of each parcel. Yields are controlled in order to favour concentration, aromatic clarity and grape balance.
In the cellar, vinifications are conducted by cuvée and by origin, with vessels chosen according to the desired profile: tanks, barrels or amphorae depending on the wine. Ageing is tailored with precision, preserving terroir transparency, fruit purity and fine textures.
Wine style
The whites of Domaine Histoire d’Enfer are defined by Alpine tension, aromatic brightness and a saline frame. Marsanne, Chardonnay, Humagne Blanche and Païen take on chiselled, precise and long-lined forms here, with notes of white fruit, citrus, flowers, warm stone and fine spices.
The reds combine pure fruit, controlled structure and hillside freshness. Syrah and Pinot Noir express elegant depth, fine tannins and clear aromatics, between black fruits, red fruits, pepper, Alpine herbs and discreet minerality.
Emblematic cuvées
Marsanne Réserve Vieilles Vignes: a deep and textured cuvée, combining breadth, Alpine freshness, yellow fruit, floral notes and a long saline finish.
Chardonnay V.V. Réserve: a Chardonnay of great precision, driven by brightness, tension and an elegant reading of limestone soils.
Humagne Blanche Cuvée Unique: a rare and deeply Valais expression, marked by freshness, citrus, white flowers and fine straightness on the palate.
Païen Réserve: an Alpine cuvée that is both intense and taut, offering fine aromatic depth and a precise finish.
Syrah Enfer de la Patience: a red of character, spicy, deep and structured, with fine freshness and significant ageing potential.
Calcaire Absolu Pinot Noir: a refined and slender Pinot Noir, carried by fruit finesse, limestone tension and a delicate texture.
Ageing and gastronomic pairings
The great cuvées of Domaine Histoire d’Enfer can evolve elegantly for 5 to 15 years, depending on grape variety, vintage and storage conditions. The whites gain complexity and texture, while the reds develop deeper spicy and floral notes over time.
The whites pair beautifully with noble fish, shellfish, poultry in cream sauce, mountain cheeses, citrus-led cuisine and refined Alpine dishes. The reds work well with lamb, veal, duck, fine game, mushrooms, grilled meats, mature cheeses and contemporary Valais cuisine.
Country: Switzerland
Region: Valais
Town: Sion
Domaine: Domaine Histoire d’Enfer
Founded: 2008
Founders: François Schmaltzried, Gilles Besse, Jérôme Favre
Terroir: steep hillsides, sunny exposures, limestone and stony soils, dry Alpine climate
Major grape varieties: Marsanne, Chardonnay, Humagne Blanche, Païen, Syrah, Pinot Noir
Major cuvées: Marsanne Réserve Vieilles Vignes, Chardonnay V.V. Réserve, Humagne Blanche Cuvée Unique, Païen Réserve, Syrah Enfer de la Patience, Calcaire Absolu Pinot Noir
Style: precise, Alpine, vibrant and elegant Valais wines, produced in small quantities.
In summary: Domaine Histoire d’Enfer is one of the most distinctive domaines in contemporary Valais. In Sion, it produces precise, pure and deeply individual Alpine wines, shaped by demanding hillsides, parcel-based vinifications and a constant search for balance between ripeness, tension and elegance.
Dominant aromas: citrus, pear, yellow fruit, white flowers, warm stone, Alpine herbs, red fruits, black fruits, pepper, fine spices, salinity and a long fresh finish.
Current selection
Discover below the bottles from Domaine Histoire d’Enfer currently available at World Web Wines, selected according to arrivals, cuvée rarity, vintage quality, bottle condition and ageing potential.
