Chemin du Vignoble

A trip though the most uniform wine region in the Valais, along the sunny southern slope. In summer the Rhone Valley incubator, where cliffs reflect the heat like an oven, where precious grapes ripen to be made into rich wine.

Around 40 types of grapes are grown in the Valais, some from old types of Valais vines including Petite Arvine, Amigne, Païen/Heida, Cornalin and Humagne Rouge. One impeccable old Valaiser is Lafnetscha, derived from Laff-nit-scha in local dialect, which translates as «don’t drink yet», as the tart white wine was often quaffed (gelafft) too soon.

The world’s tiniest vineyard above Saillon, a tiny, picturesque hamlet with round towers, perched on a rocky ridge. Three vines are dedicated to folk hero Joseph Samuel Farinet (1845-1880), a forger who only produced 20 centime pieces and discreetly gave them to the people. Switzerland’s oldest vine grows in the town of Leuk. The vine, a Cornalin, also known as an «alter Landroter» (old country red) was planted over 200 years ago in front of the venerable old «Allet-Haus». The stately «tree» grows in a stone trough, its branches providing the façade with shade.