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).
An interspecific cross between Riesling and FR 589-54 (Seyve-Villard 12481 x (pinot gris or rülander x chasselas or gutedel)) obtained in Germany in 1968 by Johannes Zimmermann. It has the particularity of having only one gene for resistance to mildew and powdery mildew. This variety can be found in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, etc. In France, it is practically unknown. Note that the "Johanniter" grape variety is a protected trademark.
sparkling wines from the region of Switzerland go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of simple veal sauté, rice with sausage meat and tomatoes or duck with orange.
Le Domaine Skincare features a serum, a cream, a fluid cream and a cleansing emulsion, all of which are vegan and suitable for all skin types. The products are made from organic matter that was previously discarded after the grapes had been pressed. Le Domaine Skincare’s packaging also includes recyclable glass bottles and jars, and reusable stoppers made of oak cut from the scraps of the vineyard’s wine barrels. ‘It is about imitating nature’s organic cycles, its original beauty,’ said Pitt, wh ...
The fifth of Redbreast’s Dream Cask offerings, released to mark World Whisky Day tomorrow (Saturday 21st May), is a 30-year-old single pot still whiskey produced by Irish Distillers at its Midleton Distillery in Co Cork. Unlike previous single-cask releases, this year’s Dream Cask combines two casks chosen as their favourites from Midleton’s vast inventory by master blender Billy Leighton and blender Dave McCabe. Leighton’s cask is a first-fill Oloroso Sherry butt filled in May 1990, while McCab ...
The Francs de Pied (Ungrafted Vines) group, which last met two weeks ago at Pasquet’s Liber Pater winery in the Graves, consists of a growing circle of vignerons who work with ungrafted vineyards planted to native varieties. The list includes Francs de Pied president Loïc Pasquet himself, vice-president Egon Müller (Mosel), and secretary Andrea Polidoro of Cupano (Montalcino) and Contrada Contro (Marche); as well as Gocha Chkhaidze of leading Georgian winery, Askaneli; Thibault Liger-Belair (Bur ...
