Valais
Dry Alpine
Switzerland's largest wine canton, in the sunny, dry Rhône valley, with steep terraces of Chasselas (Fendant), Pinot Noir, Gamay and a wealth of local grapes.
Overview
About Valais
The Valais follows the upper Rhône from the Alps down to Lake Geneva, and is the largest wine region in Switzerland. It is sheltered by high mountains, and is one of the driest and sunniest parts of the country, so its steep terraces ripen many different varieties.
Chasselas is called Fendant here, and Pinot Noir and Gamay are blended as Dôle. It is also the home of local grapes such as Petite Arvine, Cornalin and Heida, which is Savagnin, planted among the highest vineyards in Europe.
Valais is marked on the map.
Switzerland
Shaded: Valais. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Dry Alpine
Low rainfall and lots of sunshine, with warm summers, cold winters and warm föhn winds that help the grapes ripen. Irrigation from mountain channels has long been used.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Steep terraces on schist, gneiss, limestone and glacial deposits, which vary widely from one side of the valley to the other.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Marie-Thérèse Chappaz
Fully; one of the country's best-known growers, for Petite Arvine and sweet wines.
Jean-René Germanier
Vétroz; a leading family estate for local grapes.
Provins
A large cooperative that makes a wide range of Valais wines.
Simon Maye & Fils
Saint-Pierre-de-Clages; a family estate known for Fendant and Cornalin.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.