With the current difficult developments, viticulture in Valais is facing an uncertain future. On Saturday, May 8, interested visitors can take a free walking tour to find out how sustainable viticulture can be practiced in the future and how the cultural landscape can be preserved.

The 2021 wine-growing year has already got off to a difficult start. Although the severe spring frost has caused major damage, especially in fruit growing, many vines have also been affected, as has often been the case in the recent past. It is one of several new phenomena associated with climate change. But these are not the only difficulties that the wine industry is increasingly having to contend with. Due to the difficult market situation, the cultivation of vines is often no longer profitable. As a result, vineyards are increasingly being abandoned. Furthermore, the ongoing discussion about the use of pesticides in agriculture also affects viticulture in particular. The intensive cultivation methods, such as the widespread destruction of ground vegetation by herbicides or the massive use of pesticides, are not only being viewed with increasing criticism by customers and society. Many winegrowers and wine producers themselves would also like to produce their grapes and wine in a more environmentally friendly way or have been doing so for years.

For a number of reasons, viticulture in Valais is undergoing major changes.
The Pfyn-Finges Nature Park is working with the Sempach Ornithological Institute to promote nature-friendly viticulture. Together, they are therefore organizing events in 2021 that deal with current and future developments in viticulture. On Saturday, May 8, eight different topics related to viticulture will be presented in Salgesch. On a freely accessible tour, visitors can find out at several stations how sustainable viticulture can be practiced in the future and how the cultural landscape can be preserved. Local players in viticulture, as well as representatives of the Agroscope Viticulture Service and researchers, will be present. On the one hand, the event is aimed at winegrowers who are looking for suggestions and ideas for the viticulture of the future. But the event also provides wine lovers and other interested parties with exciting insights into current and future developments in viticulture.