Switzerland may not be the most famous of wine-producing nations, but this small mountainous country in Western Europe has been producing wine for over two thousand years. The lack of awareness of Swiss wine is not due to a lack of quality or quantity, but to the fact that it is produced primarily for (and enjoyed by) the Swiss themselves.
But things are slowly changing; the world beyond the Alps is now discovering the high quality of much of Switzerland's Grape/pinot">Pinot noir and white wines made from the country's flagship grape, Chasselas. High-end Vineyards can be found in almost every corner of the country, but the vast majority are in the Alpine Valais and around Lake Geneva, in La Côte and Vaud/lavaux">Lavaux.
Entirely landlocked, Switzerland is wedged between Germany, Italy, Austria and France - to the North, South, east and west respectively. Its culture is Clearly influenced by each of these neighbours, evident in its languages (German, French and Italian are all official national languages here) but also in its wines. The Germanic influence on wine is seen in a preference for Varietal winemaking and crisp, refreshing wine styles, and is most evident in the German-speaking north between Zurich and the Rhine. The French influence is felt throughout the country, but especially in the French-speaking southwest, Geneva, Vaud and Valais.
The country's favourite grape varieties - Chasselas, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Merlot - are all of French origin.
Switzerland's main wine-growing regions are on the edges of the country, with the centre largely devoid of vineyards. Most are located in the southwest, around the northern shores of Lake Geneva (Geneva and Vaud) and along the upper reaches of the Rhone in the Valais. There are also important vineyard areas in the west (Neuchâtel), south (Ticino), east (Graubünden) and scattered around Zurich in the north (Aargau, Schaffhausen and the Zurich Weinland).
Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties in Bordeaux. The Libourne region is its terroir where it develops best. The terroirs of Saint-Emilion and Fronsac allow it to mature and develop its best range of aromas. It is also the majority in many blends. The very famous Château Cheval Blanc, for example, uses 60% Cabernet Franc. The wines produced with Cabernet Franc are medium in colour with fine tannins and subtle aromas of small red fruits and spices. When blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it brings complexity and a bouquet of aromas to the wine. It produces fruity wines that can be drunk quite quickly, but whose great vintages can be kept for a long time. It is an earlier grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that it is planted as far north as the Loire Valley. In Anjou, it is also used to make sweet rosé wines. Cabernet Franc is now used in some twenty countries in Europe and throughout the world.
red wines from the region of Switzerland go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of braised beef with carrots, lamb tagine with preserved lemons and onion compote with... or rabbit with leeks.
On the nose in the region of Switzerland often reveals types of flavors of oaky, cheese or earth and sometimes also flavors of microbio, oak or black fruit. In the mouth in the region of Switzerland is a with a nice freshness.
