Ski through actual vineyards - the unique Crans-Montana experience

Crans-Montana offers the world's only ski experience where you literally ski through working vineyards. The "Piste des Vignes" descends through Valais vines, ending at wineries where you can taste the very wines whose vines you skied past minutes before.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Ride the Funicular Through 1000m of Vineyards Adventure · Price: low

   This is Europe's longest funicular at 4.2km, climbing 927 vertical meters through the Coteaux de Sierre AOC - Switzerland's LARGEST wine region at 1,200 hectares. The 13-minute ride from Sierre train station (500m) to Montana (1,427m) passes through terraced vineyards growing Pinot Noir, Humagne Rouge, Cornalin, and Petite Arvine on limestone soils. You're connecting valley winemakers to the ski resort above - wine flows UP, skiers flow DOWN. Board at Sierre station (hourly departures at xx:22), sit on the LEFT side ascending for vineyard views, and watch for vineyard parcels with stone terraces dating to medieval times.

   Backup: If the funicular is closed (rare), the PostBus route takes 25 minutes but follows the road - you'll see fewer vineyards.

   Log Memory
2. 2 Hunt the Wine That Almost Died in the 1970s Wine · Price: moderate

   At the 1221 fortified tower that the Tavelli family turned into the Maison des Cornalins (Château de Vaas, Chemin du Tsaretton 46, Flanthey), you're tasting the wine that was EXTINCT in the 1970s - only 5 or 6 vine parcels remained. Agricultural engineer Jean Nicollier rescued Cornalin, renamed it from 'Rouge du Pays' in 1972, and now it's Valais's most prestigious indigenous red. Ask for a Cornalin tasting at the wine bar (CHF 8-12 per glass, open Mon/Thu/Fri 16:00-21:00, Sat/Sun 11:00-21:00). Smell for violet and dried vine leaf, taste the wild spicy notes, and ask the sommelier: 'Which producer still works the original rescued parcels?'

   Backup: If Château de Vaas is closed, Cave Gaston & Eric Bonvin (founded 1940) in Flanthey also specializes in Cornalin - call +41 27 458 40 23 for tasting by appointment.

   Log Memory
3. 3 Taste Wine at 2,000m in an Alpine Pasture Wine · Price: high · Optional

   Pascal Cordonier takes you to a 'magical, silent place' at 2,000m - a thousand meters ABOVE the vineyards where the grapes grow. You're tasting Petite Arvine (the 'diva' grape grown here since 1602) and Humagne Rouge while looking DOWN at the Imperial Crown - 5 peaks over 4,000m. The altitude changes the wine - thinner air, sharper aromatics. Book via Cave le Tambourin (letambourin.ch, CHF 80-120pp half-day experience) in Corin village above Sierre. Request Petite Arvine and catch the SALTY finish that's the signature of high-altitude Valais wines. Ask Pascal: 'How does elevation affect what you taste?' His answer will change how you drink wine forever.

   Backup: If the alpine tasting is fully booked, Cave le Tambourin's renovated barn tasting room in Corin village offers the same wines with valley views - still spectacular, CHF 25-40 for a flight.

   Log Memory
4. 4 Find the Ski Resort Built on 300 Days of Sunshine History · Free

   Switzerland's SUNNIEST resort exists because of wine. The same south-facing position and 300 days of sunshine that created the Coteaux de Sierre AOC below also made this the perfect ski resort at 1,500m. Take the Cry d'Err gondola to 2,220m and look down at the patchwork of terraced vineyards - that's the Coteaux de Sierre with 2,500 producers working 5,000 plots. Count the stone walls - each represents a family's wine legacy. The funicular you can see snaking up from Sierre carries wine barrels up and skiers down in this unique vertical wine-to-ski connection.

   Backup: If visibility is poor, visit the Crans-Montana tourism office and ask for the vineyard map. They'll show you which specific parcels grow which grapes - then you can ski, descend via funicular, and visit those exact producers.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• The piste is groomed but narrow through vineyard sections - intermediate level

• End at Cave de la Fontannaz for wines from the vines you just skied past

• Spring skiing (March-April) offers snow + vineyard bud-break views