Summer series – The 1/6 wine tourism ride
Faced with glaciers, a climb through the highest vineyard in Europe
Between the breeding and Visperterminen (VS), the “Heida path” offers accessible panoramas, but no less majestic, punctuated by shaded breaths.
The route covers 7.9 kilometers of light, but constant climb.
Florian Cella/Tamedia
- The Heidaweg offers a 7.9 -kilometer hike between the Visp and Visperterminen.
- The local vineyard extends from 650 to 1150 meters, which allows you to adapt to climate change.
- The Cave St. Jodern brings together 500 Saturday winegrowers and produces 350,000 bottles per year on average.
- In the arrival village, “Chinderwält” offers six unique children’s play areas in old mazots.
Embred the Ceps of Heida and the Bietschhorn (3934 m) with one glance, or when two “Kings of Valais” rub shoulders in the same panorama. This is one of the pleasures offered by Heidaweg, a wine touristine connecting Visperterminen, in the heart of Haut-Valais.
Some 7.9 kilometers long, the route is thought of in the form of a simple one in an affordable but constant climb (742 meters of elevation gain in total). However, nothing prohibits leaving the Plaine in Carpostal to reach the arrival village without sweating, before going back down in the opposite direction. If not, perhaps, the wish to “deserve” the virtues of the self-proclaimed highest vineyard in Europe, which peaks at 1150 meters above sea level.
Very quickly, the cobblestones of the old town of Vispace disappear at the foot of a hill, then give way to the first rows of vines. The path, marked out by a fleshy cluster grafted to the traditional yellow hiking panels, runs along the main roads without ever joining them. While in the face of the Vispa river suggests the tempo.
Family vineyard
This valley is the historic cradle of Heida, a wine whose first written traces would go back to documents of 1586. It is now produced in The whole canton of Valais. On its own, it represents 30% of the approximately 350,000 bottles produced on average each year by the St. Jodern Killerei. This cooperative with almost brand new buildings, which we discover by starting a elbow formed by the path, brings together 500 small harvesting.
“We work almost exclusively with the famous Saturday winegrowers, who tend to disappear elsewhere,” explains the oenologist and director Michael Hock. They do not count their hours because their vines have been in the family for generations and they want to perpetuate this tradition. ”
Michael Hock, oenologist and director of the St. Jodern Kellerei to Visperterminen (VS).
Florian Cella/Tamedia
This work would represent between 1800 to 2000 hours of sweat per hectare per year. “But most members have very small plots,” says Haut-Valaisan. In return, the cellar prides itself on providing them with high remuneration.
Heida can adapt to the climate
Little boastful, the vines plunge abruptly to offer a clear view of the surrounding mountain ranges. The laces of the path nevertheless make it possible to admire this noble culture from every angle.
The winding line allows you to observe wine crops from all their seams.
Florian Cella/Tamedia
“We started talking about the highest vineyard in Europe in the 1980s,” contextualizes Michael Hock. The battle for the title is tough, but the Visperterminen vocals, which extend 500 meters high, would indeed be the highest uniform domain of the old continent.
And it’s not just marketing, according to the oenologist: “With climate change, it allows us to have more flexibility. The Pinot or the Gamay, for example, did not ripen at the top thirty years ago. And now that it is too hot at the bottom for certain grape varieties, we can, so to speak, go up a floor. ”
In the background, the Balfrin glacier.
Florian Cella/Tamedia
In the distance, the Balfrin glacier greets the walkers when leaving the hillsides to reach the forest. The air is softer, partly thanks to the Bächji, a very precious stream.
Because with an average of 520 mm of rain per year, the region belongs to the most dry Switzerland, according to one of the many didactic panels which expand the route. If the vines must therefore often be watered, “the very abundant sun” nevertheless remains a huge advantage for the culture of grapes.
The didactic panels on the region, its history and its traditions are very interesting… provided that it controls the language of Goethe.
Florian Cella/Tamedia
The peaceful ascent continues by crossing the locality of Oberstalden, which is considered an important archaeological site. Excavations have shown that the places were inhabited since the beginning of the Iron Age (800 BC), until Roman times (300-400 AD).
Almost two millennia later, but just two little kilometers away, the picturesque village of Visperterminen is both a line of finish line, a reward and halte ideal to rehashing.
Coteaux and summits rub shoulders on most of the route.
Florian Cella/Tamedia
The activity not to be missed: playing in the mazots of Chinderwält
A world just for children is literally the name and therefore the promise of “Chinder», A set of six game spaces scattered in the heart of the village of Visperterminen. Called “the labyrinth”, “the flying dragon” or even “the sound forest”, they have the distinction of having been arranged in ancient mazots. “This idea made it possible to preserve and enhance these old buildings typical of the region”, rejoices Daniela Zeiter, member of the foundation which created and manages the houses.
The contents of six houses stimulate the five senses and creativity of children. Here the “Klangwald”.
Foundation Chinderwecht/Heidadorf
Designed for children aged 3 to 10, Chinderwält intends to stimulate their five senses, curiosity and creativity. “When you enter this house, for example, there is voluntarily no light so that children learn to overcome their fear of darkness,” illustrates Daniela Zeiter. Once they have swayed upstairs, the most daring are rewarded with a kind of teepee, a multicolored background and a range of small patterns inviting to try Chinese shadows. “It is very interesting to observe how young people discover and appropriate these places,” says Haut-Valaisanne. Often, parents are themselves surprised by everything in these small barns! ”
One of the houses is based on the play of shadows and light.
Lucas Philippoz/Tamedia
The freshness that reigns once the wooden doors have been crossed is also welcome, after having walked several hours in the sun. In the next house, the walls are covered with mirrors and neon neon lights, while a third shelters a funny machine “in Tinguely”, in the words of our guide.
On the left: the entrance to the labyrinth, one of the six play rooms created by the Chinderwält Foundation in traditional fuel oils.
Lucas Philippoz/Tamedia
The six fuel oils are gathered in a radius of a few tens of meters. We sneak from one to the other via the charming pedestrian alleys of the village. The rehabilitation of these historic buildings, which started in 2005, has become a major asset for tourism In the region, which does not want to bet only on its viticultural terroir.
Chinderwält is open every afternoon during the high season, and Wednesdays and Sunday afternoons only from April to the end of June and from mid-August to October 31. Entrance costs 10 francs.
The wine blow: the AOC Heida Valais Vispertermin
Impossible not to taste Heida, this white wine from the Savagnin grape which is now cultivated throughout the canton with thirteen stars. “Whether we do the best or not, it’s a matter of taste. But what is certain is that we have the original version! ”Smiles Michael Hocke.
Today popular throughout Valais and even beyond, Heida is originally a specialty of the Valley Valley.
Florian Cella/Tamedia
With its straw yellow dress, the one who is also called the pagan, in the low Valais, reveals an “exceptionally delicate bouquet with aromas of hazelnut, honey and exotic fruits”. As an aperitif or on the dish, it accompanies both cheeses – obviously the raclette – as foie gras or fish such as salmon.
At the Cave St. Jodern, this essential is offered at a price of 24 fr. 90. It is also available in various versions: Heida Grand Cru, Barrics, “Veritas” (the most premium) and even sparkling, with variations depending on the year.
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