MAIN Wine Europe Switzerland

Switzerland brings images to mind of skiing in the Alps and giant St. Bernard's complete with brandy casks to warm the wanderer...vineyards just don't seem to belong in this picture!

However, the answer to how the Swiss succeed in making excellent wines lies in Switzerland's lake shores, river banks and the warm southern Föhn winds that flow down the mountainsides of the Alps.

The Swiss national languages of German, French, Italian and Romanche reflect the wine traditions and the selection of grapes that are grown. The range of wines produced covers red, white and sparkling wines. One reason that the wines of Switzerland are such a well-kept secret is that most of the wines don’t make it past the borders of their canton. Only one percent of the total wine production of this country is available for export.

Now that you know the secret, get prepared to be warmed by some very fine wines...

also see -> Switzerland Tourist Attractions

Welcome at Swiss Wine - Dig right in to the wine regions of Swizerland featuring a clickable map presenting information & photo tours on the grapes and the wines. Thers's much more here, but beware the non-English links if you aren't fluent in German, French or Italian.

Swiss wine - This article from the Switzerland is Yours site reviews the wines of each region along with the climate and plenty of tourist information. They do recommend several specific wines to sip as you travel through the countryside.

Nick Dobson's Swiss Wines - Although only about 1% of the wines produced in Switzerland make it to other countries, NIck Dobson's shop has a selection that is accompanied by a nice intro and plenty of pretty pictures.

Getting to Know Swiss Wines: A Visit to the Valais - In this article from Ski Europe, Nick Malgieri shares his visit with and his tasting notes from some of "best wines Germanier" makes. He also adds a note on the Bon Pere William brand of pear brandy that this winemaker distills.

Swiss Wines - Travel in Switzerland is a wine bonanza from the point of view of the Travel Lady, Madelyn Miller. Her article on Swiss wines includes a pair of pictures that will make you want to pack your bags to see the scenery and taste the wines first hand...

The Epicurean Tasting Room - Swiss Idyll - This wine safari through the Swiss wine regions not only includes detailed information on the areas, the grapes, the vineyards and the wines, but adds travel ideas and places to find more information...

Acht «Oscars» für den Schweizer Wein - Eight Oscars for the Swiss Wines - the article reports on a recent expo for the wines of Switzerland, Grand Prix du Vin Suisse. The article is available in German, Freanch and Spanish - no English version, but the list of winners that is included is the same in any language and provides some very good tips for Swiss wines to seek out and try.