The wine regions: Valais

The 5,000 ha/12,500 acres of productive vineyards of this south western canton produce 40% of every Swiss vintage. Concentrated on the south-facing slopes of the sunny upper Rhône Valley, the region is known as ‘the California of Switzerland’. Many of these beautiful vineyards are terraced with historic dry-stone walls into so-called tablars, horizontal slices of vineyard cut into the mountainside, farmed as a part-time activity by 20,000 smallholders. Typical of what they produce is the ubiquitous fendant (made from the Chasselas grapes which cover one-quarter of the vignoble), and medium-weight reds labelled either Pinot Noir or dôle, a blend in which Pinot Noir must dominate the Gamay element, and up to 15% of other varieties may be included. (Dôle Blanche is a pale rosé made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes, with the permitted inclusion of up to 10% white wine in the final blend.)