Housed in an old stone residence in Saillon's walled old town, this caveau lets visitors work through wines from most of the village's independent growers with a tasting platter.
The list: Cooperative tasting room pouring wines from nine Saillon winegrowers across roughly thirty grape varieties, including Fendant, Petite Arvine, Johannisberg, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Humagne Rouge.
Tip: Staff will help match a bottle to a dinner plan, so ask before settling on a case to take home.
La Bouteille Rouge occupies an industrial unit in Salgesch and keeps its focus narrow: Valais wines by the glass or bottle, poured weekday afternoons and early evenings only.
The list: Weekday wine bar pouring Valais crus by the glass alongside more than 100 bottled selections from regional cellars, sold at cellar pricing.
Tip: It closes weekends, so plan a weekday stop if passing through the Salgesch cellar district.
Run by the Sion winegrowers' association since 1999, Le Verre a Pied sits in the old town and rotates its by-the-glass list weekly among its member producers.
The list: Association-run oenotheque pouring eight rotating wines by the glass each week from among 18 member winemakers, with over 150 wines available at cellar prices.
Tip: The weekly glass selection turns over on Mondays, so ask what just went on the list.
Chateau de Vaas pairs a permanent exhibition on the Cornalin grape with a bar pouring the variety and other estate wines in a hamlet outside Sierre.
The list: Wine bar and exhibition space, the Maison des Cornalins, devoted to the indigenous Cornalin grape and pouring the variety alongside other wines from local Flanthey growers.
Tip: Check ahead: the caveau closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays and shuts entirely each July.
Baratine converts a traditional Conthey cellar into a bar run by Herve Fontannaz and Dorita, pouring Cave La Tine's range in an old-fashioned carnotzet setting.
The list: Cellar-bar pouring more than 20 Cave La Tine wines including Amigne, Fendant, Petite Arvine, Cornalin and Syrah, with direct bottle sales.
Tip: Opening hours are short and evenings-only from Wednesday to Saturday, so check before driving out.
Cave 23 in Fully combines a retail Oenoshop with a bar pouring Valais wines by the glass, plus tapas and a themed evening on the 23rd of every month.
The list: Oenoshop and wine bar stocking bottles from more than 30 Valais estates, with roughly two-thirds of the list sold at cellar pricing and wines by the glass served alongside tapas.
Tip: Look out for the monthly themed tasting night held on the 23rd, the shop's namesake date.
