Wine has been grown in Switzerland for 2,000 years. Yet very little is known about these wines outside of Switzerland. That is because the Swiss drink most of it, so Swiss wine is hard to find.
Switzerland is a fabulous winemaking country and one of the most wine crazy countries. In Switzerland wine is so embedded in life and land that almost everyone either is a winemaker or knows one (usually many). The Swiss also have very high expectations of quality, sustainability and ecology, which means the wines are not just excellent, they are also clean and green. The vineyard landscapes are stunning, with unique terroirs and an exhuberance of native and internation varieties. This is a wine lover's dreamland.
Being Swiss, I am able to source wines that are very hard to get - sometimes only because my parents already bought them! I have chosen some of the best representatives of Switzerland's wine scene - classic family wineries, top cooperatives and cult winemakers.
Swiss Wine Regions
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Chablais
The most alpine part of Vaud
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Geneva
The Swiss wine city on the Rhône
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Graubünden
The start of the Rhine, Pinot Noir land extraordinaire.
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La Côte
The cosy part of Vaud
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Lavaux
Unesco World Heritage & Chasselas
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Neuchatel
Smaller lakes, alpine views, watches and wine
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Ticino
The spectacular corner where Merlot thrives
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Valais
The uncontestable champion of Swiss wines.
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Vaud
A wine tourist's paradise in Western Switzerland
Swiss Grape Varieties
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Amigne
There are few grape varieties rarer!
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Cabernet Franc
Hard to ripen but a most elegant animal
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Cabernet Sauvignon
The most popular red on the planet
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Chardonnay
Cool climate Chardonnay is magic
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Chasselas
The Swiss gem, freshness without acidity
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Cornalin
Once the dominant variety in Valais
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Diolinoir
An unexpected cross on a mountainside
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Divico
New eco variety
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Divona
A new eco variety
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Doral
Doral, the exotic little number
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Dôle Blend
A blend that is almost a variety
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Eyholzer Roter
Also known as Hibou, a light rarity
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Galotta
A surprising new variety, try it
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Gamaret
A new eco friendly smooth red
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Gamay
One of the great red grapes of humankind
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Garanoir
The more structured sibling of Gamaret
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Gewürztraminer
The floral champion
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Gwäss
The Casanova grape, father of multitudes
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Himbertscha
A rare ancient Valais curiosity
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Humagne Blanche
Pre roman and tastier than most
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Humagne Rouge
The elegant animal of the St Bernard?
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Johannisberg / Sylvaner
a fantastic white often overlooked
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Lafnetscha
Lafnetscha, the "take your time" grape variety
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Marsanne
or Hermitage in Valais
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Merlot
Merlot is Everywhere!
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Mondeuse Noire
The smoother dark stranger from Savoie
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Müller Thurgau
NOT a riesling sylvaner cross. Taste it.
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Petite Arvine
The bright star of the Alpine whites
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Pinot Gris
Alpine Pinot Gris is something else!
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Pinot Noir
The most important red around the Alps
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Plantscher
An ancient variety related to Furmint
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Resi
Another Valais ancient grape
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Riesling
The great white wine, for good reason
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Roussanne
If you like Roussanne, look to Savoie
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Räuschling
one of the important medieval varieties, saved in Zurich
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Sauvignon Blanc
The most popular white here in mineral glory
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St Laurent
"Pinot with tannins" but much more too
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Syrah
At its best with Alpine elegance
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Sämling
Quite unique notes, try it
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Traminer / Heida
Savagnin climbs the highest
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Viognier
Rich and fruity white
Swiss Wine Producers
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Badoux Vins
The most famous of all Swiss wines
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Bechtel Weine
Bechtel Wine in Eglisau, Zurich
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Blaise Duboux
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Cave de la Côte
Our most popular Swiss wines
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Chanton
Extraordinary rescuer of worthy grape varieties
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Domaine de Maison Blanche
Fall in love with Chasselas here
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Domaine de Montmollin
Biodynamic Neuchâtel beauties
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Domaine des Muses
Everything Robert Taramarcaz does is pure magic
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Les Frères Dutruy
Impressive organic wines from Lake Geneva
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Marie-Thérèse Chappaz
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Markus Stäger
Elegant Pinot Noir
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Massy Vins
The Clos du Boux is Dézaley and Epesses Chasselas heaven.
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Schlossgut Bachtobel
Beautiful wines from Thurgau
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Simon Maye et Fils
Beautiful Valais wines - cult and rightly so.
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Varone
Swiss Wines
It's a big list, we know :)