about our wine
Many of the wines we have available for sale come from Switzerland, 
and predominently from the regions on Vaud and Valais, you can read more detailed information on these excellent wine growing regions below.
Swiss Wine Production
Switzerland produces each year an average of 1,1 million hectolitres of wine,
of which the majority is currently white wine (51 %). Due to the demand of Rosé the
part of red grape production is increasing and reaches almost half of the production.
The official figures regarding production and consumption published by the Swiss Confederation are available on the official website of the Federal Office for
Agriculture in Bern. The main winegrowing cantons are:
Valais 5'240 ha.....................Geneva 1'340 ha
Vaud 3'880 ha.......................Ticino 980 ha
Zurich 640 ha........................Neuchâtel 600 ha
Valais region
Protected by the barrier of the Alps, Valais has by far the driest climate of all of
Swiss wine-producing regions. The "foehn", a warm wind that accelerates ripening,
is also an important climatic factor.
Average temperatures: January: 0.2°C / 32°F - July: 20°C / 68°F
Rainfall: 575 mm./yr. (22.4 in.) at Sion. Drier than any other region.
Annual hours of sun exposure: 2010 hrs. at Sion
This is slightly less than in Ticino, but more than in other regions.
Most Valais vineyards are situated between 470 and 700 m. (1542-2300 ft.).
Those of Visperterminen, are among the highest in Europe (1100 m./3600 ft.), which is quite exceptional.
"The vineyards of Valais, which produce a third of Swiss wines, extend west to east for over a hundred kilometres along both banks of the Rhone. The right bank is the largest section, with well-exposed south-facing slopes, and continuous vineyards stretching from the western villages of Fully and Chamoson through Conthey and Sion, in central Valais, to Salquenen in the east. Along the left bank, smaller vineyards are scattered intermittently from Lake Geneva, Martigny and Riddes, to Sierre. Penetrating deep into lateral mountain valleys one finds the vineyards of Haut-Valais, notably those of Visperterminen, which are among the highest in Europe.
The favourable, sunny dry climate and the variation of soils from plot to plot account for the profusion of grape varieties and for the amazing choice of interesting wines that the Valais offers. Reds, ranging from robust, original wines from indigenous varieties to the distinguished
Pinot Noir - the principal grape in the famous Dôle blend. White wines, from the light, subtle Fendant to the rich, complex "late harvest" specialities. Valais really is a paradise for those who seek new and different wine experiences."
In addition to being Switzerland's most productive wine region, with over 5,250 ha. (13,000 acres), 20,000 growers and 700 winemakers, Valais also boasts the greatest diversity of wines both red and white. While Fendant and Dôle are the best-known appellations, the Valais speciality wines, which include both varietals and blends from indigenous varieties, are becoming increasingly important.
Vaud region
Vaud's climate is strongly influenced by the large lakes,
which create special microclimates that are appropriate for wine cultivation.
Average temperature: January:1°C / 34°F - July: 19°C / 66°F
Rainfall: 1100 mm./yr. (43 in.)
Fairly rainy for Switzerland, but less than Ticino.
The annual hours of sun exposure range from 1730 hrs. in Nyon to 1820 hrs. near Lausanne.
This is only slighty less than in Valais or Ticino. The altitudes of Vaud's vineyards vary from the
lakeshore (375 m./1230 ft.), to the slopes above Bex (700 m./2460 ft.).
Vaud can be divided into four main wine-growing areas. La Côte lies along the west shore of Lake Geneva, with Féchy and Mont-sur-Rolle in the centre, and appellations such as Vinzel, Perroy and Aubonne to either side. The Lavaux area, extending from Lausanne to Vevey and Montreux, includes the canton's best-known vineyard, Dézaley, on the steep, terraced slopes between Epesses and St. Saphorin. At the eastern end of the lake, the Chablais area stretches from Villeneuve, on the lake, to Yvorne and Aigle, and the vineyards around Bex. The North Vaud includes the appellations of Bonvillars, Côtes de l'Orbe and Vully around Lake Neuchâtel.
Vaud is the second largest wine-producing region of Switzerland. It's predominantly known for crisp fruity white wines, from Chasselas grapes, which acquire subtle and varied flavours that reflect the great diversity of soils in the region. Red wines from Gamay and Pinot Noir varieties represent about a quarter of the production.
Celebrated only once every 25 years in the town of Vevey, the famous Fête des Vignerons is a spectacular pageant and popular ritual that is the most eloquent expression of Vaud's deeply rooted wine tradition."
Bounded by the Jura to the West and the Alps to the East, the canton of Vaud produces a quarter of Swiss wines. Vaud's long tradition of winemaking dates back to the Dézaley vineyards of medieval Cistercian monks. Today, with 26 different appellations of origin, Vaud offers an interesting variety of fine Chasselas and other white wines, as well as a number of excellent reds.
