There are over 40 varieties of indigenous grapes that grow in Switzerland. Despite several previous visits to Switzerland, we had no idea about Swiss wine until our recent visit to Zermatt. It was the wonderful Fabiene of Zermatt Tourimus that told us Valais, the region where Zermatt is situated, is Switzerland’s largest growing wine region and produces nearly half of the country’s wine.
So why then is Swiss wine virtually unknown outside of Switzerland and even harder to find? It’s simple really. Production is very small and producers sell their Swiss wine to restaurants and private clients. Only about 1% of Swiss wine ever makes it to the European market.
Pinot Noir is king here in Valais as the most widely planted grape. It was introduced to the region in the mid-nineteenth century as a way to regenerate Switzerland’s wine industry. Pinot Noir has become one of the best red wines in Valais.
Pinot Noir wine is among the most popular in the world and Vanity Fair once said of it:
“The most romantic of wines, with so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic.”
So it’s no wonder we were excited to try Swiss Pinot Noir! We found it on the wine list at Restaurant Stradel and since it pairs well with red meats, was a perfect accompaniment to the Fondue Chinoise we were sharing. It is smooth, fresh, and soft on the palette with scents of black cherries, raspberries, and other berries.
We were even more excited to find a bottle at the butcher shop along Zermatt’s Main Street to bring home. We bought a Caves du Paradis Sierre Pinot Nois AOC Valais 2011 for around 16 CHF. It’s ideal serving temperature is 14°C and pairs well with red meat, lamb, and soft cheese.
Swiss wine is relatively expensive in comparison to wines from Italy or even other parts of Europe. But not totally impossible to find. If you come across a bottle, we highly recommend you give it a try. Or better yet, take a wine safari to Switzerland!
And if you just can’t make it to Switzerland anytime soon, but we’ve convinced you that you simply must try Pinot Noir, it is available on these specialty websites:
Andrea says
Never tried Swiss wine but I adore Pinot Noir…I guess now I know why I never see it anywhere!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’d love the Swiss Pinot Noir, Andrea! Now you have an excuse to go to Switzerland. 😉
Ali says
Really interesting that they keep production small and keep most of the wine inside of Switzerland!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I think it’s just that they have far less space to grow grapes than Italy, France, or even Austria. So the vineyards operate more as small farms and then they produce wines like a cooperative.
Leigh McAdam says
I lived in Neuchatel for a short time and remember having great fun at the annual Fete de Vendages. I don't know if they just drink all the Swiss made wine but it sure is hard to find in Canada. On the rare occasion I do find a bottle of good Swiss white wine I save it for a fondue.
Leigh says
I lived in Neuchatel for a short time and remember having great fun at the annual Fete de Vendages. I don’t know if they just drink all the Swiss made wine but it sure is hard to find in Canada. On the rare occasion I do find a bottle of good Swiss white wine I save it for a fondue.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Oh how fun, Leigh! We were just looking at the calendar of the wine festivals. There’s even one in the Valais region where you spend 4 days hiking around 10 kilometers per day between the mountain wineries!
D.J. says
Wine in Switzerland? I’m intrigued…
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You’ll have to go to Switzerland to try both the Swiss wine and fondue, Deej!
Randy Kalp says
Ooh La La! I had no idea. I’m already a huge fan of Swiss travel, so this is the icing on the cake. 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
There are various wine festivals and even wine hikes throughout the summer months. We hope to get back over the summer to discover more about Swiss wine.
Peter Lee says
I am agree that Swiss wine is very good at taste. I really love swiss wine although I am not a big fan of wine and other drinks but good things deserves praise.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We weren’t big fans of wine before we moved to Europe. Wine is definitely an acquired taste and I think your tastes in wine even mature as you understand more about the production.
Blaise Chessup says
I would like to find some white Fondant from the Vaud region. Any ideas where I can get those around Washington, DC area?
Alice says
Sorry for replying so late but found this post only today!
Beeing a Swiss girl from the French part of Switzerland I really love to read all those compliments about our wines!!! The FANDANT grape is mainly produced in the Valais. In canton Vaud to produce the majority of the white wine the grape CHASSELAS is used. In some other post I red that those two grapes are the same, but they aren\’t. They really are two different sorts.
And now to you question, sorry, I have not the slightest idea where to find Swiss wine in the States.
Mandana says
I always enjoy the Fondant that is the specialty of the Vaud region. I would love to find some in the Washington, DC area. There is a gourmet place called Rodman’s just between DC and Maryland and they sell some of the Swiss wines occasionally, but they complain about lack of volume by the distributor. I have not been able to find the Fondant though. It goes great with fish in summer time.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Sounds like a great excuse to visit Switzerland, Mandana! The production is so small it is hard to find Swiss wines outside of Switzerland.
jason P says
The Swiss Merlots are some of the best in the world. One of our favorites is the Quattromani Merlot del Ticino.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for the recommendation, Jason! We definitely want to get back to Switzerland and discover more about the wine.
Alice says
The FENDANT grape is mainly produced in the Valais. In the canton Vaud the CHASSELAS grape is produced. Sorry for this verry late reply, but only find this very interresting post today. I am a Swiss French girl and it warms my heart to read all those very nice comments to our really very good Swiss wines. thanks to all of you.
Dylan Stine says
This is a fantastic read! My family is Swiss and I have just began importing my uncle\’s wines to California via the San Francisco Bay Area. You can browse the exclusive varietals we offer at http://www.ddiwine.com, some include Gamaret-Garanoir, Gamay of course, as well as some old vines like Scheurebe and Kerner. So delicious. My goal is to help spread awareness of the amazing quality of Swiss wine! It truly is Switzerland\’s best kept secret.