Published on June 2, 2022
On May 28th and 29th, 2022 we celebrated 20 years of IG PIWI Wallis!
The extensive programme started on Saturday with a visit to the World Nature Forum in Naters and a welcome to the participants in bright sunshine below Naters Fortress. Then it was off into the underground corridors with a tour of the fortifications. Michael Hänzig introduced the PIWI topic with a talk on PIWI red wine vinification, which was followed by a raclette à discrétion with a variety of wines for further discussion.
On November 29th, 2002, 20 ambitious winegrowers founded the IG PIWI Wallis.
As early as 1999, Dr. Pierre Basler and his colleagues founded PIWI International to give the new developments in fungus-resistant grape varieties a suitable framework and to further develop the breeding work together.
As the largest wine-growing region in Switzerland and due to its special location, Valais has founded its own IG. Pierre Basler from the Wädenswil Research Institute and Ing.Agr. Norbert Agten from the Upper Valais School of Agriculture were also involved. Hans-Peter Baumann was elected as the first president.
The aims of the IG include: Legalisation of the planting of interspecific grape varieties, mutual support, exchange of experience, breakthrough of organic viticulture in Valais.
The IG had already achieved one of its most important goals in 2007: the official planting of PIWI vines.
In his review of the 20 years of development of the PIWI cultivation in Valais, Hans-Peter thanks the founding members present. Current President Edwin Locher presented certificates and thanked Hans-Peter and his wife Iren for their many years of tireless work.
The development of PIWI vines in the Upper Valais was rapid: just one year after the start in 2003, there were 4350 vines. Today, IG Valais has 54 members and there are around 4 hectares of PIWI vines in Upper Valais. In the Lower Valais, where the larger vineyards are located, there are now around 25 hectares of PIWI vineyards.
The Swiss delegation from Valais was always well represented on PIWI International members' trips, which unfortunately had to be cancelled in recent years due to the pandemic. The delegation from Valais travelled to Hungary, the Czech Republic, France, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
Following the review, there was plenty of room for interesting discussions and an exchange of experiences. After lunch, three workshops focussed on the latest trends in winemaking with oenologist Michael Hänzi. Martin Auer and Bea Steinemann from Fibl presented some interesting aspects of PIWI area development in Switzerland and provided information on the most widely cultivated varieties in Valais. Diego Baumann demonstrated practical applications with mowing machines in the vineyard.
The IG is now working on further concepts for marketing the sustainably produced PIWI wines. We were able to taste a very large variety after the workshops.
Thank you very much for this great and entertaining anniversary celebration. We wish you every success for the next 20 years.
Gisela Wüstinger
May 30, 2022
