Evolution of the market
Consumers leave their country to make purchases.
The development of travel and international tourism is generating a growing interest for a holistic luxury experience., in sectors such as high-end transportation, luxury accommodation, cruises, wine and spirits.
Luxury markets coming up
The evolving demand for luxury vehicles is growing, especially in emerging markets where luxury cars are a symbol of status and social recognition.
For high-end hotels an increase of 9 percent was recorded. Demand is growing steadily.
It’s the generation of 30 year olds and above, in search of the high life, who have helped to grow the luxury cruise market by 5 percent.
The luxury gastronomy and delicatessen is also a growing sector whose demand is increasing due to the growing search for authentic and original gifts and exceptional travel souvenirs.
Luxury goods, wine and Valais
The Valais canton, with its 5259 hectares of vineyards, has the largest vineyard in Switzerland.
Its beautiful natural landscape of mountains, vineyards, meadows and forests bathe in the valley’s wonderful light, flooded 300 days a year with sunshine. Its microclimate means Valais wines are often recognised at major international competitions.
The sweet wines from Valais, luxury goods
The sweet wines of the charter “Noble Grain ConfidenCiel” launched in 1996 by the engineer-oenologist Stéphane Gay, epitomise savoir-faire.
These overripe nectars, produced according to a very strict specifications are luxury products: (25000 liters are produced annually by thirty winegrowers). They are rare, exclusive and almost impossible to find outside of an inner circle. These sweet wines are from withered grape harvest (drying of grapes on the vine) or roasted and come from traditional grape varieties from Valais. Valais has ideal conditions for the development of botrytis cinerea, the famous “noble rot” after alternating rain and foehn. The ‘roasted fungus’ grape harvest helps to concentrate the grape flavors and give the wine an incomparable complexity.
The grapes used are Marsanne (or Hermitage), Pinot Gris (or Malmsey), Sylvaner (or Johannisberg), Petite Arvine or Amigne.
Where to buy
The Château de Villa in Sierre and le Verre à Pied in Sion wine bars usually stock limited quantities of some of these wines and various vintages.
More information at Grain Noble Confidentiel.