Swiss Wine

View All/ Add Photos

Switzerland is a country of rugged mountains and lakes in Western Europe, with its people sharing the cultures and languages of Italy, Germany, France, and Austria. Its wines reflect this blend of ancestries, with grapes saluting all these nationalities. Wine grape seeds were found dating as far back as 3000 BC around Lake Neuchâtel, although it is unknown whether these were ever cultivated as wine. What is known is that the Romans brought vines into Switzerland some time around 100 BC and produced wine in the Valais area, planting Amigne, Arvine, and Rèze grapes. In the Middle Ages, Cistercian monks from Burgundy, France settled in Switzerland and established vineyards in Vaud. They studied soil types, and which grapes would be most suitable to Alpine climate conditions, though the wines they produced were often supplemented with mulling spices and honey. International trade had stepped up by the 17th century, with French wines, especially those from the Rhône, the most sought after Read more »

The late 1800s Phylloxera crisis hit Switzerland quite hard. Efforts to replant were mostly thwarted with more emphasis placed on property developments and industrialization. Wine production was forced farther into the Alpine areas. More recently, efforts to promote high quality wines from Switzerland have had some international success. The OIC (certification of origin inter-canton, translated into German, French, and Italian) has regulated the Swiss wine appellation system (as does the AOC in France, DOC in Italy, etc) since the 1980s, outlining its viticultural areas and emphasizing quality control measures. As with their watch-making, the Swiss are very precise when it comes to wine. Yields are controlled down to the kilogram per square meter (the French go by hectoliter per hectare), and sunlight averages are factored in mathematically to each canton’s ripeness potential.

The dominant grape in Switzerland is Chasselas, which is referred to in different languages according to the region’s national affiliation. It has three French names besides Chasselas: Fondant and Perlan, Dorin when crossed with Chardonnay. In German parts it may be Gutedel. Other popular white grapes are Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Semillon.

In some areas such as Valais, Vaud, and Neuchâtel, identify with Burgundy, and this shows in their choice to grow Pinot Noir (Blaugurgunder) and Gamay. The Bordeaux grapes Merlot (especially in Ticino), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also popular, as are the Rhône varietals Syrah and Marsanne.

There are dozens of Swiss OIC in all. Most of the wine is produced within the south and south-west cantons Geneva, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Valais, and Vaud. Some quality wines are emerging from the North-east cantons Aargau, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Zurich, and St. Gallen, among others. ~Amanda Schuster

– Description from Amanda Schuster (hide)

Add description View descriptions »

View more Articles »

View More
Popular wines made in Switzerland under $20

Find local availability for these wines:Submit

Buy Swiss wines »

Varietals Produced in Switzerland View all

Gamay

History of the grape: Legend has it that it was brought over by the Romans in the first century BC to the town of Bea...
Chasselas

Chasselas maintains a very modest acreage in North America. It is most associated with Switzerland, where it is by fa...
Chardonnay

British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...
Merlot

The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...
Pinot Noir

“With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Van...

Subregions of Switzerland

Valais

Valais is Switzerland’s largest wine region, located in the Southwest portion of the count...
Aargau
Geneva

Popular Wineries in Switzerland View all

Ardente Winery

Ardente Winery was founded in 1996 on a twenty acre estate located in the quiet hills of Atlas Pe...
Caves des Perrières

Two milleniums old, vineyard development in our region is the result of a long tradition. In th...
Domaine Donatsch

Malans and wine have been inseparable for over 1,000 years. The historical village centre and lus...
Weinbau Toni Ottiger, Weingut Rosenau

The winery is located in Rosenau chestnut tree by the lake. The frequent hair dryer and the balan...
Koellreuter Klushof

The oak is an oak barrel and the expansion of the wine is used for storage, to round out the flav...
New Hall Vineyards

The first English Vineyard in Purleigh was planted back in 1120 and according to the local Paris...

People getting updates on Swiss Wines

Page 10 of 18
Switzerland on Snooth

October 2012

Le Rosel Oeil de Perdrix Valais Aoc 2011

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by martins2002
September 2012

Christophe Laurent Valais Petite Arvine

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Christophe Laurent
September 2012

Christophe Laurent Valais Petite Arvine 2012

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Christophe Laurent
September 2012

Christophe Laurent Valais Petite Arvine 2012

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Christophe Laurent
September 2012

Christophe Laurent Valais Petite Arvine 2012

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Christophe Laurent
September 2012

Christophe Laurent Valais Petite Arvine 2012

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Christophe Laurent
September 2012

Pinot Noir Chevaliers Aoc Salquenen 2010

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by martins2002
September 2012

Arca Rubra Merlot DOC 2009

Snoothrank:

Kellerei HuberKellerei in Hermann Hesses WahlheimatDegustieren Sie diese Woche die Weine von Matteo Huber. Am besten rufen Sie einen Tag vor ihrem Wunschtermin an, um die köstlichen Weine Hubers zu probieren. Der Architekt lebt seine Leidenschaft für die edlen Tropfen in einer Kellerei in Montagnola aus. Dort wo auch der Schriftsteller und Maler... Read More

Wine review by matteo huber
August 2012

Valais Aoc Heida Bibacchus 2011

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by martins2002
August 2012

Epesses Aoc Lavaux Rives d'Or Grand Vin Vaudois 2011

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by martins2002

prev 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 ... 18 next

View larger map

Best Wine Deals

$32.49

20% off

Clos Marsalette 2011
$34.19

17% off

Vincent Girardin Saint-Aubin les Murgers de Dents de Chien Premiere Cru 2006

See More Deals

Recent Forum PostsView all

Bayern Munich Real Madrid Live Stream
Bayern Munich Real Madrid Bayern Munich Real Madrid Live...
http://freehackleaked.com/clash-of-clans-hack-get-unlimited-gems-and-gold
Clash Of Clans Hack publishers would earn much less. In turn,...
http://healthexpertsupplement.com/rapid-tone/
Rapid Tone :- These days, by far most of the individual needs to...
https://www.nutritionsofhealth.com/zynev-male-enhancement/
Zynev They can vary from pimples the locks reduce...

Swiss wine ratings and reviews

Winery:	Frederic Fourre
Region:	Switzerland » Thurgau
Varietal:	Traminer

Winery:	Domaine de Montbourgeau
Region:	Switzerland » Jura
Varietal:	Chardonnay
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Domaine Rolet
Region:	Switzerland » Jura
Varietal:	Pinot Noir
Type:	Table Wines

Region:	Switzerland » Vaud » Ollon
Color:	White Wines

Winery:	Weingut Aust
Region:	Switzerland » Thurgau
Varietal:	Kerner

Region:	Switzerland » Vaud » Lavaux
Varietal:	Gamay , Pinot Noir , Syrah
Color:	Red Wines

Winery:	Blauburgunder
Region:	Switzerland » Graubünden » Buendner Herrschaft » Malans
Color:	Red Wines

Winery:	Castle Rock Winery
Region:	Switzerland » Vaud » Yvorne
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Association Vinicole d'Aigle
Region:	Switzerland » Vaud » Aigle
Color:	Red Wines

Winery:	Gérard Raymond, Cave Gérard Raymond, Saillon, VS
Region:	Switzerland » Valais
Color:	Red Wines

Winery:	Cave des Rois
Region:	Switzerland » Valais
Color:	White Wines

Winery:	Jean-René Germanier
Region:	Switzerland » Sion » Dôle
Color:	Red Wines

Winery:	Weingut Kopp
Region:	Switzerland » Svizzera Italiana
Color:	Red Wines

Winery:	La Grillette
Region:	Switzerland » Neuchatel
Color:	White Wines

Winery:	Schloss Proschwitz
Region:	Switzerland
Type:	Sparkling Wines

Swiss Wine

Malanser Blauburgunder

Oven Baked BBQ Ribs

Xellent Vodka

Baba Ganoush - the Best in the World!

Schweiz Waadt Château Maison Blanche Yvorne Rouge Aoc Grand Cru

Pepperidge Farm® Stuffed Pork Tenderloins en Croute

Aigle le Souverain Aoc

Pork Tenderloin Agrodolce

Humagne Rouge

Pork Chop & Spanish Rice Bake

Viognier les Evouettes

Easy Pork and Pepperoni Pizza Bake

Dôle Balavaud Aoc

Pesto Pork With Polenta

Vigoria

Pernil Asado

Chardonnay Classique Neuchâtel Aoc

Original Ranch Pork Chops

Schloss Proschwitz Prinz Zur Lippe Cuvée Alexandra Sekt B.a. Brut Sparkling Wine

Apple Molasses Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes, Apples and Walnuts

View More Popular wines made in Switzerland under $20

Varietals Produced in Switzerland View all

Subregions of Switzerland

Popular Wineries in Switzerland View all

People getting updates on Swiss Wines

Page 10 of 18 Switzerland on Snooth

Stay Connected

Get our free newsletter

Snooth Newsletters

Best Wine Deals

Recent Forum PostsView all

Snooth Media Network

View More
Popular wines made in Switzerland under $20

Page 10 of 18
Switzerland on Snooth