Hospices de Salquenen wine line – Wine history
At the beginning of the 13th century, the Knights of St. John came to Salgesch – presumably because of the fine wine. Even today, our municipality proudly bears the Maltese cross as its coat of arms.
In keeping with the purpose of the order, the clergy built a hostel where pilgrims and travelers could find shelter, accommodation and food. The Hospices de Salquenen. Long before the first hotels opened their doors, the Knights of St. John demonstrated exemplary hospitality. Everyone was welcome in their accommodation and the sick were cared for in the hospital until they recovered.
Due to historical developments, travel across the Alps has steadily increased. As a result, the Knights of St. John were forced to set up further, similar branches in order to provide warm care for all those in need. This hospice at the top of the pass is still run by the friars today with the same charity as back then. The virtue of the Knights of St. John, their inexhaustible hospitality, is still cultivated by the people of Salgesch today in the wine village.
The Order was able to perform knightly feats with gracious donations from the population. For their part, the winegrowers of Salgesch supported the charitable brothers of the order by donating wine. The priests collected these fine wines in a large wooden barrel in the cool cellar of the hospice. At that time, the water in the village well was of inadequate quality and contained many pathogenic germs. For this reason, the Knights of St. John relied on pure wine to restore strength to the exhausted travelers. The quality of this wine was soon known throughout the Simplon.
Cheers, enjoy and see you at the next bottle.
