Valais - Geography

Protected by the barrier of the Alps, the canton of Valais has by far the driest climate of all of the Swiss wine-producing regions. The föhn, a warm wind that accelerates the grapes' maturation, is also an important climatic factor.

Average temperatures:
January: -0.2°C / 32°F
July: 20°C / 68°F

Rainfall: 575 mm./yr. (22.4 in.) at Sion
Drier than any other region.

Annual hours of sun exposure: 2010 hrs. at Sion
This is slightly less than in Ticino, but more than in other regions.

Most Valais vineyards are situated between 470 and 700 m. (1542-2300 ft.). Those of Visperterminen, among the highest in Europe (1100 m./3600 ft.), are exceptional.