Sitting in a hotel room in Sierre, with the sun shining and the Mémoire des Vins Suisses annual presentation of its treasure chest of aging wines about to begin – and I’m reminded what a lovely place this is for anyone who likes good wine. Sierre, in the middle of canton Valais, boasts more sunshine than any town in Switzerland (on a par with Algiers is my recollection). Spring might not yet be here, but it’s trying hard. Here’s my morning view from Hôtel de la Poste, where I holed up last night after a big Rioja tasting in Sion.

Now I move up the hill a bit to Château Mercier, another place with rooms with mountain views. And mountain views here means vineyards.

But first, listen to the blackbird on the roof, admire the tree shadows on the wall, smell the fresh bread from the bakery, mmmmm. Getting primed to taste beautiful wines! Entry to the MDVS tasting, 15:00-19:00, is CHF20 if you didn’t register earlier online.