Jazz & Wine in Champéry: Discover Swiss wines against a unique mountain backdrop

Aurélie Lavison, how did the idea for Jazz & Wine come about?

When we took over the Café du Nord in 2018, I wanted to revamp our wine list. To do this, I visited numerous winemakers. At some point, I thought to myself: why not just invite them here? That way, our guests can get to know the winemakers in person and discover their wines first-hand. That’s how Jazz & Wine came about. In collaboration with Alta and At’Home, we started with three evenings; then it became five, then seven, and now we’re already on our eight edition.

Why do wine and music go so well together?

Both are about enjoyment, socialising and discovery. Initially, the focus was on jazz. Today, the programme is more varied, ranging from Afro-Latin American sounds to the blues.

What sort of atmosphere do you aim to create on these evenings?

Dorfstrasse is closed to traffic and transformed into a lively meeting place. Families, locals, holidaymakers and walkers all come together. The children dance in front of the stage, whilst the adults discover new wines or enjoy the music. This creates a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere where everyone is welcome.

Guests can discover wines from various Swiss winemakers. How do you select them?

Each restaurant puts together its own programme. For the Café du Nord, the focus is on personal encounters and new discoveries. We enjoy working with small wineries and organic producers. This year, for example, a winemaker from Neuchâtel is taking part for the first time. As well as wines from Valais, we also serve wines from other regions of Switzerland.

What do you look for when putting together your wine list?

The most important criterion is that we must like the taste of a wine. At the same time, it must pair well with our cuisine. As we serve many cheese dishes, tartares and grilled dishes, we select wines that complement these dishes. But aperitif wines are also very popular with us.

What role does Swiss wine play at Café du Nord?

Our wine list consists almost exclusively of Swiss wines. We offer only a few French wines, and that is due to the strong demand from our international guests who visit us in winter. At the same time, our restaurant is an important showcase for the winemakers. The producers regularly tell me that guests first discovered their wines here before visiting their vineyard. Holidaymakers, in particular, often don’t have time to take part in a wine tasting in the valley – yet they can still discover Swiss wine here in the restaurant.

What role does the mountain landscape play in this experience?

A very important one. Enjoying a glass of wine with a view of the Dents du Midi whilst listening to live music creates a very special memory. I’m convinced that the surroundings influence how we perceive a wine. It’s not just about the drink, but about the moment as a whole. It is precisely these memories that stay with people for a long time.

Are guests increasingly looking for experiences like this these days?

It’s clear that people want to spend time together, enjoy life and discover new things. In the age of digitalisation, that’s reassuring. Our concept is very simple: good wine, good music and a wonderful atmosphere. Perhaps that is precisely why it works so well.

What do you want guests at a Jazz & Wine evening to take away with them about Swiss wine?

That Swiss wine is incredibly diverse and still has plenty to offer. Even after more than twenty years in Valais, I get to know new winemakers every year. It is this diversity that makes our viticulture so exciting – and that is exactly what we want to convey to our guests.

The Jazz & Wine evenings take place every Friday until the end of August 2026 at the three restaurants Café du Nord, Alta 1874 and At’Home in Champéry.