d'alt Schmidia Merlot AOC VS

The legend behind the wine

In a small village near Brig, there is said to have lived a pious old widow. She diligently spun wool, every day until evening. When it grew cold outside, she would always let the poor souls in at midnight.

She would leave a small light burning and go to bed. When the poor souls came in, they would warm themselves by the stove and stay with old Schmidja until morning. One evening, however, Schmidja is said to have spun longer than usual. The poor souls were already calling outside the window, "Schoch, d alt Schmidja spinnt noch" ("It's freezing, and old Schmidja is still spinning"). But the old widow was determined to finish spinning the tow. Outside, though, it was Schoch (bitterly cold), and the poor souls are said to have blown the door open with a gust of wind.

On the evening she died, the poor souls are said to have been seen in a procession heading to the glacier. Today, when the poor souls beg to be let in, one is said to call out for protection, "Schoch, D Alt Schmidja spinnt noch", so that they leave us in peace and do not suddenly visit us on the day of our death.