Tire Bouchon

A Corker of a Chalet

Verbier is one those places that many skiers adopt as their second home. You are probably one of them and, if not, you could be about to become one. Once they have succumbed to its magic, some people never seem to leave. And Chalet Tire Bouchon is the quintessential home from home in the mountains, snuggled at the end of a track and hugged by alpine woods.

You find yourself just above the lift station at Savoleyres so your views over the addictive resort of Verbier are stunning but Place Centrale is just a five-minute drive down the hill. You’re living like the long-term residents; you feel like you belong here. This is the sort of place that you will never, ever, want to leave. You’ll find yourself wistfully cancelling next week’s post-holiday schedule. If only you could!

Tire Bouchon is traditional mountain style and yet elegant. It is restful and oh so comfortable and yet tinged with little luxuries. The massive stone fireplace resonates an English country house when a log fire is blazing while the casement windows are sublimely alpine chalet. The whole first floor is essentially open plan with areas that flow from one to the next, but the different functions are respectfully separated. There is a cosy snug for games or TV. The kitchen manages to be an inviting space, it is beautifully well-equipped and has the civility not to encroach on the dignity of the graceful dining table. There is, however, that family essential - a kitchen dining table with authentically chalet style corner benches, delightful for kids’ suppers, efficient pre-skiing breakfasts or just chilling as someone else cooks.

The five bedrooms all have en-suite baths or showers, including the delightful (and unusually spacious) bunk-bed room. Your extended skiing family can spread out, find some privacy and some peace, as well as enjoy abundant sociability. Nor will they ever have to queue for a bathroom. Three bedrooms are on the ground floor (where there is also a laundry, just tantalising you to wash out those ski socks and stay another week) and two more large doubles on the top floor. The view to the mountains from the bed of the Master is something you want to wake up to every day.

There is a private garage with space for three cars and you will probably want to bring a 4x4 as the track can be snowy. Well, you are probably waving wands and making wishes for it to be snowy in anticipation of a week (or two?) rejoicing in Verbier’s magnificent skiing. So, load up the big car and settle down in Verbier like you were at home. Reflect on what it is that brings you back year after year. Or maybe never leave.   

P.S. We have striven to make no comment on the wonderfully appropriate name of this chalet, but that resonant “pop” as the cork emerges from a bottle of fine Amarone….