Clear No. 1 in Grand Prix du Vin Suisse: Valais produces the best Swiss wines

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One percent of the canton of Valais is vineyard area. A remarkable percentage when you consider how mountainous Valais is. The canton has a long tradition in viticulture and dates back centuries. Climate, soil and different grape varieties allow winemakers to produce a particularly diverse range of wines. The terraced vineyards along the Rhône are among the steepest in Europe and are mostly south-facing. This means the grapes benefit from optimum sunlight. Valais is also at the top of Switzerland in terms of sunny hours, even ahead of Ticino.

Hot days, cool nights

But heat and sunlight alone aren’t enough to produce really good drops. What makes a wine extraordinary are the temperature differences between day and night. Due to the altitude in the Alpine valley, the grapes can cool down at night and thus preserve their fresh aroma. The combination of sun-soaked, fully ripe grapes and the ideal acid structure makes wines more aromatic, balanced and storable.

Spoiled for success and innovative

Of course, viticulturists have a big share in the overwhelming success of Valais wines. They are the ones who challenge the extreme weather conditions that occur more and more frequently every year. They are the ones who till the barren lands and steep vineyards. They are the ones who try innovations such as photovoltaic systems or fungus-resistant grape varieties. That’s why Valais winemakers came first in 8 out of 15 categories in this year’s “Grand Prix du Vin Suisse”. It is therefore no coincidence that the Leukersonne winery in Susten, run by Damian and Fabienne Seewer and Jörg and Karin Seewer, has been named Winery of the Year 2023.

In Coop’s wide range of wines you will find many Valais wines that have been awarded gold and silver medals! And of course the many other award-winning wines of “Üsserschwiiz”.

Inspire yourself!

Source : Blick