Conthey, Valais, Switzerland (Le Matin, Fre) – A large white band stretched across a very high and very steep vineyard in canton Valais above Conthey has been attracting attention, visible as it is from the A9 autoroute.

Oenologue  Xavier de Werra, whose idea it was, explained to Le Matin that old vines belonging to the city of Basel needed to be renovated because the 50-60 degree slope suffers from erosion. A digger was called in to "remodel" and the white cover added to give grass and other useful seeds time to root and grow properly. If the white band doesn’t do its job within six months the owners will need planning permission to continue with what the canton at that point will consider a permanent change to the landscape.
Photo: Valais replanting often features white protective bands on young vines for a season, but covering a slope with solid white garden felt is unusual. Here, steep slopes near Sierre.