Pierre-Luc Leyvraz

The soils of the Lavaux area were formed about 25 million years ago. The thrust which, at the time, would definitively define the course of the Rhône and the location of Lake Geneva was formed through the Alpine folds. During the various successive glacial cycles, the glacier "planed" the slope and thus "corrected" its shape, while at the same time dragging away Alpine sediments deposited in the form of moraines. The material that makes up this soil has been lying here since the retreat of the last Rhone glacier, about 15,000 years ago. As early as the 10th century AD, Cistercian monks cleared the thickets on the steep slopes to plant the first vines. The rocks and stones left behind by the glacier were used to build the spectacular walls that still support the terraced vineyards of this estate today.

The soil composition varies slightly, but its high limestone content has always remained the same. It was during the 1950s that the first vines gave the name "Les Blassinges" to the estate. Today, the famous St-Saphorin "Les Blassinges" is composed of a subtle blend of Chasselas from different plots, but all grown in the heart of this appellation. In other words, a true "Grand Cru".