“Over 200 types of vine are grown in Switzerland and of these no fewer than 40 are ancient, indigenous rarities, which are found barely anywhere else in the world. Anyone who wishes to enjoy these fine wines cannot avoid visiting Switzerland as only 1 – 2 percent of Swiss wines are exported. Small vineyards and steep hillside locations complicate and limit production. Therefore the focus is on quality rather than quantity – a fact born out by a variety of awards.
German-speaking Switzerland
The wines of German-speaking Switzerland on a small scale distinguish themselves in the same way as Swiss wines do in general: the prevailing soil types (in the Jura Arch chalky, in the Mittelland predominantly rich in molasses and slate, in the Bündner Herrschaft scree) produce wines of exceptional variety. Pinot Noir (= Blauburgunder) and Riesling-Silvaner (also known as Muller-Thurgau) are the main – but by no means the only – varieties produced in German-speaking Switzerland. RAuschling (Zurich), Completer (Grisons), both of which are autochtonous specialities, as well as internationally known varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon blanc and a good ten more varieties are vinified for wine lovers which is why connoisseurs associate the following expression with German-speaking Switzerland: great things come in small packages.
Valais
The sun almost turns the Valais into a Mediterranean country. The vineyards run continuously along south-facing hillsides from the wine-growing villages of Fully and Chamoson in the Lower Valais via Conthey and Sion in the Central Valais all the way to Salgesch in the Upper Valais. The smaller vineyards on the left-hand shores are distributed between Lake Geneva, Martigny, Riddes and Siders. In the Upper Valais several vineyards extend deep into the side valleys. It therefore doesn’t come as a surprise that the highest vineyard in Europe is tended in the Upper Valais at an altitude of 1,150 metres above sea level in a place called Visperterminen. The Valais is the biggest wine-growing canton with several hundred wine-growers there producing just over two fifths of Swiss wine. The wines in the Valais are made from approximately 50 types of grapes, some of which, such as Petite Arvine, Amigne, Humagne blanc and Humagne rouge and Cornalin, are very ancient and barely known outside the area. The most common varieties however are Chasselas (pressed into Fendant) and Pinot noir. Syrah vines, which thrive wonderfully on the Rhone slopes gain importance every year. This is where the biggest variety of top Swiss wines is pressed.
Vaud
Lake Geneva nestles between the Savoy region and canton of Vaud like a giant croissant. The hillsides on the Swiss side are not only exceptionally beautiful and sun-drenched but are also perfect locations for vineyards. These are divided into four regions: “”La Côte”” on the western side of Lake Geneva with Fechy and Mont-sur-Rolle in its centre, and appellations such as Vinzel, Perroy and Aubonne either side. The Lavaux region, which extends from Lausanne to Vevey and Montreux, includes the best-known wine-growing area of the canton: the impressively located Dezaley situated between Epesse and St. Saphorin on steep, terraced slopes above the lake. The vineyards of Villeneuve at the eastern end of the lake form the beginning of the Chablais, which stretches all the way to Yvorne and Aigle and to the vineyards around Bex. The Bonvillars, Cotes de l’Orbe and Vully appellations around Lake Neuchatel belong to northern Vaud. Vaud is the second-biggest wine-growing region of Switzerland. It is mainly known for its fruity and fresh white wines made from Chasselas grapes. Their subtle, and varied aromas reflect the different soil types of the area. The red wines made from Gamay and Pinot noir grapes represent roughtly a quarter of production. The strong points of Vaud wines are tradition as well as individuality. The wine-growers are ambitious and show that in terms of diversity and quality they are up there with Switzerland’s best.
Ticino
Thanks to its location south of the Alps, the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino benefits from a sunny, almost Mediterranean climate. In spite of this the Italian-speaking southern tip of Switzerland isn’t simply an extension of Lombardy but an independent land which is home to assertive and unconventional people – and wines with the same qualities. The northern part, called Sopraceneri, extends from Bellinzona to Lake Maggiore as well as partly into the mountain valleys at the foot of the Alps. The main wine-growing places of the Sottoceneri in the south are Chiasso, Lugano and Mendrisio, as well as the vineyards of Castel San Pietro and Morbio. Almost 90 per cent of the wine-growing area of the Ticino are stocked with Merlot which originally hails from Bordeaux. Several of the outstandingly pressed wines from the best locations need not shy away from comparison with their French relatives. The Merlot Bianco, an elegant white wine which is constantly growing in popularity is also made from the Merlot variety. Other grape varieties account for just under a fifth of total production: Bondola, Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet franc for red wines as well as Chardonnay, Chasselas, Sauvignon and Semillon for whites.
Three Lakes/Neuchatel
Lakes Neuchatel, Murten and Biel are the calm poles of the Three Lakes region and are part of the Watch Valley, home of precision watches. Roughly two thirds of wine production in this region is located by Lake Neuchatel. The other wines of the Three Lakes region are produced around Lake Biel in the canton of Bern and on Mont Vully close to Lake Murten which is shared between the cantons of Fribourg and Vaud. The massive first chain of the Jura drops down to Lakes Biel and Neuchatel, steep at the top but sloping more gently towards the bottom. The south-facing location is perfect for vines, mainly Chasselas and Pinot noir but also other varieties which were introduced to Switzerland just a few years ago but are being grown ever more successfully. These include Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay, Gamaret and Garanoir. This is also where the famous Neuchatel rose, the fruity and delicate “”Oeil-de-Perdrix””, is pressed. The area on the boundary between German- and French-speaking Switzerland combines the cultural influences and reflects the range of wines: from clear simplicity through to effervescent joie de vivre!”
