New Delhi: When planning to visit Switzerland, you only think of mountains covered with snow and beautiful scenery. But Switzerland has more to offer; one can find the finest wines here. Swiss wines have been under the radar of the general public, and one reason is that almost all wine stays within the country. Most of the wine is consumed domestically, and only 1 per cent of the wines are exported.
The Romans planted the first vines in Switzerland 3,000 years ago along the riverbanks and valleys. The heart of Swiss viticulture—present all over the country, and vines are planted in every province, excluding high mountain areas—can be found in the French-speaking area of Valais.
The Valais vineyards stretch about 60 km along the banks of the Rhone, making them one of the highest in Europe. While we are talking about vineyards in Switzerland, there is one that is the smallest vineyard in the world. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, owns it. Read on to learn more about this vineyard and how many varieties of vines are grown here.
The unique history of La Vigne à Farinet
La Vigne à Farinet in Switzerland is the smallest registered vineyard in the world. It is located in Saillon, in the canton of Valais. The Dalai Lama owns this vineyard, a fact not known by many. The Dalai Lama received the vineyard from Abbé Pierre during his visit to Saillon in August 1999.
Actor Jean-Louis Barrault, who played Farinet in the 1939 film L’Or dans la montagne, started the vineyard La vigne et les Amis de Farinet with Pascal Thurre, Léo Ferré, and Gilbert Bécaud. Barrault was the first owner of the vineyard. Between 1994 and 1998, it belonged to Abbé Pierre. Before he died, Abbé Pierre wanted to see the vineyard again, and a helicopter flight was planned with Bruno Bagnoud, the head of Air Glaciers. However, Abbé Pierre passed away a few days before the flight. Every year, people from sports, arts, and politics come to work at the vineyard.
The vineyard covers just 1.618 square metres and has three types of vines: Fendant, Pinot Noir and Petite Arvine.
Grape varieties cultivated at the vineyard
The three types of vines produce a small amount of unfermented grape juice, known as must. This juice is mixed with good wine from other winemakers to create 1,000 numbered bottles sold to support children’s charities.
Discovering the Wines of the Valais Region
Fendant
Fendant, also called Chasselas, is a type of white grape and wine that comes from the shores of Lake Geneva and the slopes of the Alps. The name Fendant means the ripe grape splits when pressed by a finger. This grape was brought to the region in the 19th century and became the main variety after the phylloxera crisis.
Fendant wines are refreshing, have a fine structure, and have a stony mineral taste. They often have notes of white flowers, citrus, and minerals. The most common type is dry Chasselas, which tastes like apple, pear, and citrus.
Fendant mainly grows on the sunny slopes of the Valais region. Most Swiss wine comes from the western and southern parts of Switzerland, in the cantons of Geneva, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Valais, and Vaud.
Pinot noir
Pinot noir is a type of red wine grape. It comes from the grape species Vitis vinifera. The name “Pinot noir” means “black pine” in French. This name refers to the grape clusters that look like tightly packed pinecones.
Pinot noir grapes are used to make red wines worldwide. They are also used in champagne, sparkling white wines like the Italian Franciacorta, and English sparkling wines.
However, growing and making wine from Pinot noir can be challenging. The grapes tend to grow in tight clusters, which makes them vulnerable to rot. Careful management of the plants is necessary to ensure a good harvest.
Petite Arvine
Petite Arvine is a well-known white wine from Valais. It comes from a delicate grape that is sensitive to wind and ripens late. This grape needs plenty of sunlight but grows best in soil that isn’t too dry. Petite Arvine offers a variety of wines, each unique and enjoyable. You can find a dry version with aromas of wisteria and grapefruit, a slightly sweet version with notes of rhubarb, and many sweet dessert wines made from withered grapes. These dessert wines are often rich and have strong scents of exotic fruits.
Nestled in Saillon, Switzerland, lies La Vigne à Farinet, the world’s smallest vineyard, owned by the Dalai Lama. This tiny plot produces Fendant, Pinot Noir, and Petite Arvine grapes, yielding a small amount of wine that must be used to create limited-edition wines supporting charities. Read on to learn about the vineyard’s unique history. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
