Switzerland's Valais. Fine Wine, and Water Too

I was impressed by Adam Graham's write-up at WSJ about the wines of Switzerland's Valais. I really only drink Italian wines, however I do plan on broadening my palate. I'm always interested in trying something new.

Actually, I was surprised to find out Switzerland produces wine. Apparently, some very nice ones, as mentioned by Graham:

Most Swiss wines remain unknown abroad—understandably, since only 1% to 2% of production is exported. In fact, many wines never leave the villages where they're produced. But they're worth drinking. The Wine Advocate reviewer David Schildknecht, for instance, included four Swiss producers in his Best of 2012 collection, including one from Valais, Robert Taramarcaz at Domaine des Muses. 

Sounds good. What really floored me, though, was the mention of fountains found in most Swiss villages that dispense Alps-fed water. The real thing. What we pay lots for in this country by the bottle:

Bottled water can cost upward of $5, but public fountains dispense Alps-fed water in every village—you'll see locals refilling their own bottles.

I never heard of that. Found a picture of one at Michael Ottey's blog.

That's, like, $50 worth of water per minute. Free. So civilized those Europeans. What do we have here in the center of most cities? A vertical mall, or one of those fakey parks with benches and a few small trees surrounded by really tall buildings, or a McDonald's.

They have pure, healthy water -- we have plasticky urban clutter.

I have to go to Europe sometime.