Some people would have you believe that I only like expensive wines and I’m out of touch with reality. They only say that because they know me. However, today I want to talk about drinking ordinary wine in an extraordinary place.
My girlfriend (now wife) and I were living in the UK when we met, so our first visit to any of her relatives was not here in Canada, but in Valais in Switzerland where her cousins had a little chalet. I brought along some really good red burgundy to impress them.
To be honest, I had no interest in visiting Switzerland and only went to make her happy. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The town of Vercorin in Valais is nestled in the Alps within easy reach of the Matterhorn and the Italian border. The Rhone River runs beneath its feet on the way to France and vinous fame. It is simply one of the most beautiful places on earth.
If you have an able body and a little energy, then do as I did and go walking here in the late Spring or early Summer. The mountain streams still hug onto the last remnants of snow and the crisp mountain air refreshes as it cools.
The local Herens cattle are famous for fighting each other in the spring to establish herd dominance. When I was there, the crowd was disappointed to find them in mainly good spirits rather than butting heads. I was happy for them.
Valais also has the largest wine industry in Switzerland. These are some of the highest vineyards in Europe at about 1,000 metres and offer some very cool views. You can discover two distinct and unique wines. The first is Fendant, which is a gentle and crisp white made from the Chasselas grape. (No, you are not meant to have heard of it.) The second is Dole, a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir that makes a soft and juicy red, perfect for the local cuisine.
The cuisine of choice is Raclette, which we enjoyed on a summers evening in the garden overlooking the neighbouring mountains. Raclette is a cheese wheel you melt over a grill and shave onto plates to serve with potatoes and pickles and dried meats. It is every bit as good and fattening as it sounds. Local cheese and local wine is a fantastic combination. It nearly made up for them taking the much more expensive burgundy to their cellar never to be seen again. Ah, family!
If Switzerland is in your plans this year Globus Tours has a tantalizing tour What’s Cooking in Switzerland led by Burt Wolf, the host of the public television series Travels & Traditions.
My girlfriend (now wife) and I were living in the UK when we met, so our first visit to any of her relatives was not here in Canada, but in Valais in Switzerland where her cousins had a little chalet. I brought along some really good red burgundy to impress them.
To be honest, I had no interest in visiting Switzerland and only went to make her happy. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The town of Vercorin in Valais is nestled in the Alps within easy reach of the Matterhorn and the Italian border. The Rhone River runs beneath its feet on the way to France and vinous fame. It is simply one of the most beautiful places on earth.
If you have an able body and a little energy, then do as I did and go walking here in the late Spring or early Summer. The mountain streams still hug onto the last remnants of snow and the crisp mountain air refreshes as it cools.
The local Herens cattle are famous for fighting each other in the spring to establish herd dominance. When I was there, the crowd was disappointed to find them in mainly good spirits rather than butting heads. I was happy for them.
Valais also has the largest wine industry in Switzerland. These are some of the highest vineyards in Europe at about 1,000 metres and offer some very cool views. You can discover two distinct and unique wines. The first is Fendant, which is a gentle and crisp white made from the Chasselas grape. (No, you are not meant to have heard of it.) The second is Dole, a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir that makes a soft and juicy red, perfect for the local cuisine.
The cuisine of choice is Raclette, which we enjoyed on a summers evening in the garden overlooking the neighbouring mountains. Raclette is a cheese wheel you melt over a grill and shave onto plates to serve with potatoes and pickles and dried meats. It is every bit as good and fattening as it sounds. Local cheese and local wine is a fantastic combination. It nearly made up for them taking the much more expensive burgundy to their cellar never to be seen again. Ah, family!
If Switzerland is in your plans this year Globus Tours has a tantalizing tour What’s Cooking in Switzerland led by Burt Wolf, the host of the public television series Travels & Traditions.
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