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Did you know that Switzerland is a wine country? While it is not as visited as Napa Valley or Italy, it is truly unique. I had the rare opportunity to visit this past spring.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting Switzerland’s wine country and the best place to try it for yourself.

Switzerland’s Wine Country

Switzerland has a beautiful wine country, with vineyards spread across the Valais region’s terraced hillsides.

From Lake Geneva’s shores and the rolling hills of the canton of Vaud.

You can explore charming wine villages, enjoy wine tastings at local wineries, and discover this alpine nation’s rich winemaking traditions cultivated for centuries.

However, visiting the Swiss Wine Country is bizarre compared to other more famous wine regions.

We will go over everything you should know before you go.

Switzerland Grape Varieties

First, talk about the grape varieties you will find in Switzerland, each contributing to the country’s unique winemaking landscape:

1. Chasselas: This white grape variety dominates the vineyards of Switzerland, producing crisp, light, and fruity white wines. It thrives in the Lake Geneva region, particularly in the canton of Vaud.
2. Pinot Noir: A versatile grape, Pinot Noir stands as Switzerland’s most common red grape variety. It yields elegant, fruity red wines with cherry, raspberry, and spice notes. Growers cultivate Pinot Noir across several regions, including the Lake Geneva Region, Valais, and Eastern Switzerland.
3. Merlot: Predominantly found in the Ticino region, Merlot serves as the primary red grape variety in Switzerland’s southernmost canton. It delivers full-bodied red wines with rich plum, blackberry, and chocolate flavors.
4. Gamay: Known for its light and fruity wines with flavors of red berries and refreshing acidity, Gamay flourishes in the Lake Geneva region and the canton of Valais.
5. Riesling-Sylvaner (Müller-Thurgau): This white grape variety, called Riesling-Sylvaner in German-speaking regions and Müller-Thurgau in the rest of Switzerland, produces aromatic white wines with floral and fruity notes. It grows primarily in Eastern Switzerland, particularly in the cantons of Thurgau and Graubünden.
6. Cornalin: Indigenous to Switzerland, Cornalin thrives in the Valais region, yielding deeply colored wines with intense fruit flavors and smooth tannins.
7. Humagne Rouge: Another native grape variety to Valais, Humagne Rouge delivers complex red wines with spicy and earthy notes, often compared to Syrah.

Swiss Wine Regions

More than 252 types of grapes are grown here, which makes the wine here really special. Here is a breakdown of the different areas of the Swiss Wine Regions.

1. Valais: This region is known for its sunny terraced vineyards lining the steep slopes of the Rhône Valley. It’s Switzerland’s largest wine-producing region, and various grapes, including Chasselas, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, are grown.
2. Lake Geneva Region: Situated around the shores of Lake Geneva, this area includes the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. Vaud is particularly famous for its Chasselas wines, while Geneva produces a diverse range of wines, including Chasselas, Pinot Noir, and Gamay.
3. Ticino: Switzerland’s southernmost wine region, Ticino, benefits from a Mediterranean climate. It primarily grows Merlot grapes, producing full-bodied red wines. The region also produces a small amount of white wine, including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
4. Eastern Switzerland: This region includes the cantons of Graubünden, Thurgau, and St. Gallen. Graubünden is known for its Pinot Noir and Riesling-Sylvaner wines, while Thurgau produces Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Noir. St. Gallen also contributes to Switzerland’s wine production with its own unique varietals.

Lake Geneva Region

This guide will focus on the Lake Geneva Region, which consists of several charming towns, one of which we visited.

We stayed in Lausanne, the capital of the canton of Vaud, to explore the nearby wineries.

However, I would not recommend staying here; the area near the train station was rough, and the city itself was not charming.

Instead, stay in one of the nearby villages listed below for a true winery experience.

Montreux offers breathtaking views of Lake Geneva and hosts the renowned jazz festival.

We did not visit it, but from the pictures, we can see that it has beautiful architecture.

Vevey enchants visitors with its lakeside promenade and historic Old Town, while Lutry boasts medieval charm and vineyard-covered hillsides.

Meanwhile, Cully hosts an annual wine festival, inviting visitors to celebrate the local viticulture amidst picturesque surroundings.

You can’t go wrong with any of these regions; they were all remote and stunning.

Our Visit To Switzerland’s Wine Country

When we visited, we took the train from Lausanne to Villette to visit one of the wineries.

The train was fast, only eight minutes each way, and about $3 per ticket with the Swiss Half Fare Travel Pass.

Once the train dropped us off, it was a long trek up a massive hill. You do not want to dress up in your winery, which is best for visiting Switzerland wineries.

But you should lace up your hiking boots and get ready to sweat. It’s more of a hike than a stroll.

The trek up to the top was along a narrow paved road that cars do go down.

While we did not encounter any during our walk, it is important to be aware when exploring.

We passed charming homes along our journey, which provided an authentic European feel.

Cave Jacques et Aurélia Joly

We visited on Sunday afternoon. One winery was open until 9:00 PM, Cave Jacques et Aurélia Joly.

The winery was filled with locals enjoying a Sunday vin.

We sat outside on the balcony, which had terrific vineyards and lake views, even on a rainy day.

The team was very friendly, despite our language barrier, and the wine was well-made but affordable.

This part of Switzerland speaks French primarily, by the way.

Do I Need To Reserve A Tasting?

We did not reserve a tasting time when we visited Cave Jaques, but other wineries prefer that you reserve a tasting time.

You can pop in, but many are homes and small buildings that may not be open when you arrive.

What Switzerland Wineries Accept Tastings?

When researching the area near Lausanne, I found only a few that accepted reservations.

I would definitely book them as soon as possible when setting up your trip to Switzerland’s Wine Country.

Here are the places I recommended after weeks of research.

• Domaine de la Crausaz – Book reservations here or via email.
• Domaine Bovy – Book reservations via email here.
• Domaine Croix Duplex à Grandvaux – Book reservations here.

Explore More of Switzerland

So, is Switzerland’s wine country worth a visit? Absolutely! You have to put in the time to do it.

Lace on your hiking boots and get ready for a day tasting various Swiss wines.

Want to do more during your visit to Switzerland? The Best Fondue In Switzerland Is At Restaurant Taverne!

Here was my favorite hike: Your Ultimate Guide To The Gorgeous Aare Gorge In Switzerland.

Make sure to visit Harder Kulm. So you can Meet The Dog On The Top Of Interlaken!

Read all of my Europe Travel Guides!