Top 100 white wines of Neuchâtel
Discover the top 100 best white wines of Neuchâtel as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the white wines that are popular of Neuchâtel and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Neuchâtel
Neuchatel is one of the smaller wine regions of Switzerland, located in the French-speaking western half of the country, North of the much larger Vaud area. Much like its neighbour, Chasselas dominates white plantings here, however Pinot Noir is more significant here, as is the reputation of Neuchatel's rosés.
The region is generally referred to as the 'Three Lakes' as the region - and the four AOCs within it - are found on the relatively low-lying, flatter land, centered around the lakes of Morat, Bienne and Neuchatel.
The region also covers three neighbouring Swiss cantons.
AOPs Cheyres and Vully occupy 105 (260 acres) of the canton of Fribourg (on the shores of Lac de Neuchatel and Morat, respectively), while the Lac de Bienne, or Bielersee (for the generally Swiss-German speaking people of Bern) denomination takes up 222 hectares (550 acres) of the canton of Bern on the lake of Bienne.
The lion's share of the AOP, around 605 hectares (1,500 acres), is in the canton of Neuchatel, mainly on the north shore of the eponymous lake, in the Neuchatel AOP.
Overall, this puts the wine region on what the Swiss refer to as "la plaine" - a relatively flat area of land from Geneva through Bern to ZuRich, sandwiched to the north by the Jura and to the South by the Alps.
The Vineyards here are on relatively low-lying, flatter land, centered around the lakes.
Soils here are light and stony, generally Jurassic and rich in limestone. However, areas with more clay and vigour can also be found.
The Climate is moderated significantly by the presence of the lakes, which prevent summer temperatures from rising dramatically and also dampen the effects of frost and snow in winter. Neuchatel has about-average rainfall of around 1,000mm (39 inches) per year.
Discover the grape variety: Savagnin
Savagnin is a white grape variety originating from the Austrian Tyrol. It arrived in Franche Comté and quickly became the flagship variety of the Jura. Cousin of the gewurztraminer, it gives small white bunches. Its berries have a thick skin which resists well to grey rot and to diseases in general. Savagnin thrives on marl soils and is a very aromatic grape variety. It is used in the elaboration of yellow wine, the AOC Château-Châlon is the most representative. This grape variety also produces vin de paille which is a sweet wine for which the ripe grapes are dried on a bed of straw for at least 6 weeks before being pressed. The best known AOC straw wines are: Arbois, Côtes-du-Jura and Etoile. Savagnin is also used to make Macvin du Jura, a liqueur wine, and to make Crémants du Jura.White wines made from Savagnin have great aging potential. They have a powerful and complex aroma with notes of walnut, almonds, hazelnuts, flowers, honey and green apple.
Food and wine pairing with a white wine of Neuchâtel
white wines from the region of Neuchâtel go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), shellfish or vegetarian such as recipes of toasted bagel with smoked salmon, squid with garlic and parsley or quiche without eggs.
Organoleptic analysis of white wine of Neuchâtel
On the nose in the region of Neuchâtel often reveals types of flavors of microbio, tree fruit or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of earth, tropical fruit or oak. In the mouth in the region of Neuchâtel is a with a nice freshness.
