Switzerland

Switzerland is in a perfectly logical location for growing grapes and making fine wine, nestled between Germany, France, and Italy.

About half of Switzerland’s wines are white; most are made from Chasselas — a grape cultivated with much less distinction in Germany, eastern France, and the Loire Valley. In Switzerland, Chasselas wines tend to be...

Switzerland is in a perfectly logical location for growing grapes and making fine wine, nestled between Germany, France, and Italy.

Other white grapes include Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, Marsanne, Petit Arvine, and Amigne — the latter two indigenous to Switzerland. Merlot is an important red grape (especially in the Italian-speaking Ticino region), along with Pinot Noir and Gamay.

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Subcategories

Genève
Vaud

The Vaud wine country is divided into four main areas. La Côte stretches out in the western part of the basin of the Lake of Geneva between Morges and Nyon. The Lavaux region, extending from Lausanne to Vevey-Montreux, encompasses the canton's most famous vineyard, the Dézaley.

Its terraces cling to the abrupt slopes between Epesses and St Saphorin, which overhang the Lake. The Chablais stretches out on the right bank of the Rhône between Villeneuve and Bex. The north of the Vaud region brings together the terms of origin of Bonvillars, Côtes de l'Orbe and Vully on the banks of the Lake of Morat.

With a quarter of the Swiss wines produced in Vaud, it is the second wine-producing region of Switzerland. Above all distinguishes itself by its fresh and fruity white wines from the Chasselas grape, whose refinement and multiple flavours reflect the great diversity of the region's soils.

Red wines from the Gamay and the Pinot Noir varieties represent about a quarter of the production.
Valais

The vineyards of Valais account for a third of the total wine-production in Switzerland.

The favourable, sunny and dry climate, as well as the diversity of soils, account for the amazing richness of unique wines that the Valais produces from a wide range of grape varieties
Tessin

The Monte Ceneri divides Ticino into two zones: the Sopraceneri (Bellinzona) in the north, where one can still see vines growing on pergolas, and the Sottoceneri (Lugano) in the south. Traditionally, Ticino's vineyards are scattered in small parcels, and winegrowers generally vinify their harvests together, in order to guarantee the requested quality standards.

Almost 90% of the vineyards in Ticino are planted with Merlot, which can truly be a rival to the red wines from the Bordeaux region, when it enjoys a favourable situation and is well vinified.
Grisons