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 […]
Sierre
What makes a wine traditional?
Tradition is a hot word in wine marketing right now, one that reassures consumers – and yet few of us who are on the buying end of the sales chain question what it means, I think. If you have been making wine the same way for 50 years, does that make your wine traditional? 100 years? Or what […]
Top picks, reds from Vinea fair
I normally opt to taste a lot of Pinot Noir at the Vinea Wine Fair, but this year my focus was other reds, in particular Gamays and Cornalins. My notes on favourites from tasting them yesterday – Friday – follow, ending with other reds that were among my top wines tasted at Vinea. This year […]
Int’l competitions: Winning Pinot wines named
Austrian cellar named ““Gran Maestro du Pinot Noir” Two Valais wines win Grand Or top awards SIERRE, SWITZERLAND – Austrian winery Weingut Schlosshalbturn from Halbturn was named the winner of the prestigious “Gran Maestro du Pinot Noir” at the Mondial des Pinots wine competition in Sierre Friday 2 September. Two wineries from canton Valais in […]
Sierre wine museum hike, expo
A quick note about an interesting option if you’re at the Vinea Wine Fair this weekend: a guided visit to the current exhibit is on offer at the Valais Wine Museum, next to the Chateau de Villa (whose excellent wine bar and raclette meals are always worth a visit). “Le vin au goût du jour” […]