SWISS WINE PAGE
SWISS WINE PAGE
The Valais is the valley of the Rhone river. Protected by the Alps it borders West Switzerland in the North, Italy and France in the South. With an average of 2,100
hours of sunshine per year it reaches the maximum in Switzerland.
Typical of the Valais are the many different micro-climates, due to the complex soil structure and the local winds. The right bank of the river Rhone is directed south and profits from optimal sunshine. The constant winds can be quite strong, the influence of the southerly wind, the «Föhn», is favourable to the vines. Yet the water may be scarce at times, the average rainfall amounting to barely 600 mm. The vinyards of Visperterminen (1,100 m above sea level) in the Upper Valais belong to the highest in Europe.
Chasselas (also called Fendant) provides with 45% the largest amount of the production of white wines; Sylvaner, which is sold as Johannisberg, taking second position.The other types of vines count as specialities of the Valais: Amigné, Arvine, Humagne Blanc, Rèze, Marsanne Blanche, Muscat and Savagnin Blanc (Heida). There are also Chardonnay, Riesling, Riesling-Sylvaner, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (also called Malvoisie). In the Upper Valais old genuine types may be found, such as Gwäss, Himbertscha and Lafnetscha. The red types are Pinot Noir, Gamay, Humagne Rouge, Cornalin, Syrah, Diolinoir (a cross between Diolly and Pinot Noir) and Durize.
The classic system of the vine-cut in the Valais is the Gobelet-cut. The soil is generally light, well aired, with only little clay. In all areas there is limestone. But the conditions of the soil can vary quite widely: in the region of Sion there is slate, for example. More than 22,000 vinyard-owners share the 5,200 ha of the Valais wine region. The majority of the small owners cultivate wine as a part-time occupation. They sell their vintage to the cooperatives (Provins Valais, 30%) or to the cellars (Union of Valais Wine Merchants UNVV, 55%). The remaining 15% of the total vintage is shared among 700 wine-growers.