Sitting in the middle of a vineyard in the canton of Vaud, is the impressive Aigle Castle, a fortress built by the Savoy in the 12th century. Photo by Andreas Gerth, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.
A PRIMER ON SWISS WINE Written by Claire Williams
Swiss wines have quietly gained a reputation as an insider's gem within the global wine community. Despite Switzerland producing more than 26 million gallons annually, only two percent of that leaves the country. Within Switzerland's six distinctive wine-growing regions is an astonishing array of unique terroirs and an impressive roster of over 250 grape varieties under cultivation. This captivating tapestry comes to life when strolling through the picturesque vineyards or indulging in a wine tasting within the cozy confines of a local winegrower's cellar. Wine with Passion: Malans & Grisons The area around Bad Ragaz in Malans has been making wine for over a millennia. The historic center of Bündner Herrschaft is the Bothmar Castle, and the surrounding lush green vineyards make it one of Switzerland's most beautiful wine regions. Forty-five varieties of grapes grow in the Herrschaft, which is the warmest wine-growing region in German-speaking Switzerland. While more than 50 different wines are produced here, seventy-eight percent of production is Blauburgunder, a German synonym for Pinot Noir. The region's vineyard-hiking trail offers access to many vineyards and wine cellars, regionally called Torkel, meaning "wine-press," where visitors can learn about the vintners, 52 slmag.net
the climate, and the warm and dry, gusty Föhn winds responsible for producing vintages that consistently favorable values on the German Öchsle scale, which measures the density of grape must (the freshly crushed fruit juice that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the grapes), and indicates the sugar content and grape ripeness used in wine production. House of Wine: Rhine Valley, St. Gallen Notable for its award-winning architecture and distinctive roofline, the Haus des Weins, (house of wine) opened in October 2018 in the center of Berneck, a winemaking village approximately 30 minutes by car from the city of St. Gallen. At present, 20 winemakers from the Rhine Valley, Sarganserland/Walensee, and Lake Zurich regions utilize the house to present approximately 100 wines for tasting and purchase alongside other regional products and handicrafts. (hausdesweins-sg.ch) TukTuk and Wine: Vineyards in Geneva Welo allows you to experience Geneva's vineyards and culture with an electric TukTuk journey. En route, passionate local vintners treat you to their finest wines while sharing the stories and insights behind their craft. (www.welo.swiss)