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  • Wine was considered a medicine

Wine was considered a medicine

Dionysius, the god of wine, is also a healer. Since Antiquity, people have attributed medicinal properties to wine: a “hot” and “living” drink because it results from fermentation, a liquid associated with blood – the source of strength and life. Wine is seen to have the powers of a vital fluid, capable of regenerating the body in times of weakness and sickness. 

Thus, in the wine-producing canton of Valais, wine held a role as a health-giving product until the 1950-60s. It is used for several empirically-designed remedies aimed at helping chills, coughs and colds; rheumatism and arthritis; weakness and in particular, women giving birth. The custom of offering wine to women who  have given birth is recorded back to 1528. A document in the archives mentions that a demi-pot of red wine (about 7 decilitres) is offered to a woman after she gives birth.

Source: Histoire de la Vigne et du Vin en Valais, «La coupoe et le vin de l’accouchée», Samuel Pont, ethnologist.

Step into the memory of the Switzerland’s largest wine region! The information that you will find on these pages comes from the book "Histoire de la vigne et du vin en Valais, des origines à nos jours", a reference work that brings together the most recent scientific discoveries about the fine wines of Valais and their rich past.

Order the book

Musée du Vin - Rue Ste Catherine 6 - 3960 Sierre | tél. +41 27 456 35 25 | contact@museeduvin-valais.ch

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  • F
  • D
  • E
  • Home
  • Exhibitions and Trail
    • Permanent exhibition
    • Current exhibition
    • Wine Trail
    • Past exhibitions
  • Events
  • “Discovery” programme
  • Schools
  • The Museum
    • Presentation and mission
    • Collections
    • Historical
    • Organization
    • Infos pratiques
  • History of wine
    • From its origins to today
    • History of grape varieties
    • Did you know?
  • Support
  • Shop
  • Media
    • Documents for media
    • Archives
    • Press rewiew
  • Information