The oldest vine in Switzerland

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living piece of history There is a vine that has been growing in Steg-Hohtenn since 1750, surviving wars, crises and climate change. Today, the oldest vine in Switzerland is not only a botanical curiosity, but also a cultural symbol.

In the upper village of Steg-Hohtenn, at the foot of the Lötschberg, it stands inconspicuously outside the Borrihaus: a vine of which the trunk is so broad and cracked that it almost looks like a small work of art. Analyses by Prof. Dr Fritz Schweingruber, renowned in the field of dendrochronology, that is, the study of tree rings in trees and woody plants, date its origin to around 1750. This makes it the oldest vine in Switzerland – and probably in the entire Alpine region.

From relic to living archive

It has survived for almost 270 years. It has witnessed heat waves, harsh winters, and the transformation of Valais viticulture. Today, it bears only a few grapes, but its symbolic power is enormous. To ensure its continued existence, the citizens of Steg-Hohtenn founded the ‘Älteste Rebe der Schweiz‘ (Oldest Vine in Switzerland) foundation on 26 November 2019, headed up by Dr Hans-Christian Leiggener. ‘This vine is not a relic, but a living archive,’ says Leiggener, who also works as a mountain guide (IVBV) and is the managing director of the UNESCO Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Foundation. He believes that the old vine is less a monument than a project for the future – a piece of identity that should be passed on.

‘Wiissus Humannji’ – history in new forms

For example, by growing seedlings from the vine, which are rooted on a south-facing slope in Hohtenn. They are vinified at the Domaines Chevaliers winery in Salgesch and bottled as ‘Wiissus Humannji’. The name means ‘white confinement’ in Valais German and refers to an old tradition: in Valais, women were given white wine after giving birth, which was considered light, digestible, and fortifying. Today’s ‘Wiissus Humannji’ deliberately ties in with this cultural heritage – not as a historically accurate descendant, but as a symbol of how history is carried on in new forms.

A guild as a witness to history

To ensure that this story is not forgotten beyond the borders of Valais, the ‘Guild of the Oldest Vine in Switzerland’ was founded in August 2021, which, in addition to caring for and replanting the vine, is also responsible for imparting knowledge. More precisely, the guild does not see itself as a nostalgic association, but rather as a living community that accompanies the vine into the future through events, public relations work, and commitment. So, when you visit the vine today, you don’t just see a gnarled wooden frame, you encounter a witness to history. In front of the Borrihaus in Steg-Hohtenn, it tells a story of past, present and future – and of how culture lives on when given the opportunity for new growth.