Fourth-generation family estate on the Colline de Geronde above Sierre, working ten domains between Loeche and Fully, with Petite Arvine, Ermitage, Cornalin and Syrah anchoring the range.
Tip: The Geronde hill site can be walked without booking, or reserved as a commented tasting led by a family member.
Address: Chemin des Bernardines 45, 3960 Sierre, Switzerland, Valais
Martigny house started in 1874 by Alphonse Orsat and part of the Rouvinez group since 1998, buying from more than 1,100 growers between Martigny and Salgesch for its Primus Classicus range.
Tasting: Cellar and shop in Martigny pouring the house range, Monday to Friday 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:30.
Tip: The Rue du Levant cellar keeps weekday hours, and the Primus Classicus range is the one to ask for.
Family cellar at Varen on the slope above the Pfyn forest, bottling the rare old Valais white Gouais beside Humagne Blanche, Cornalin, Diolinoir and Pinot Noir.
Tasting: Tastings, group offers and excursion packages, with art vernissages in the cave. Tuesday and Friday 09:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, the last Saturday of each month 11:00 to 17:00, other days on request.
Tip: Gouais is rarely bottled on its own anywhere; the cave opens Tuesday and Friday, plus the last Saturday of the month.
The canton of Valais farms this 3.5 hectare estate on dry stone terraces at Chateauneuf, where Valais Merlot was planted in 1931, and still bottles it beside Fendant and Cornalin.
Tasting: Espace Merlot point of sale and tasting, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 17:00. Dry stone walling courses run on the estate terraces.
Tip: Espace Merlot keeps weekday office hours only, so plan the visit around a working day rather than a weekend.
Bio Suisse certified domaine at Fully working six hectares of terraces, with 13 varieties in the range including Petite Arvine, Cornalin, Humagne Rouge and the rare Altesse.
Tasting: Commented tastings, vineyard walks ending at a small pavilion, and a traditional Valais meal on request. Monday to Saturday by appointment only.
Tip: Everything is by appointment, and the vineyard walk finishes at a pavilion above the terraces with a tasting.
Family domaine in Vétroz founded in 1896 and farmed under Bio Suisse organic certification across 34 hectares. Amigne de Vétroz and the Cayas Syrah are the house specialities.
Tasting: Reception, sales and tastings Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:30, Friday 8:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00, Saturday 10:00 to 13:00. Cellar visits and tastings available by request.
Tip: Book ahead for a cellar tasting built around the Amigne de Vétroz and the Cayas Syrah.
Sion cooperative drawing fruit from about 1,500 growers across roughly 750 hectares of Valais vineyard, bottling some 120 wines that run from Fendant and Johannisberg to Cornalin.
Tasting: Provins operates boutique wine bars across Valais and offers a personal sommelier contact for group tastings; visit format varies by location.
Tip: A dependable stop for a broad flight of native Valais grapes at every price point.
