Switzerland Flashcards
Major Wine Producing Regions Switzerland
French speaking:
Valais
Vaud
Geneva
Neuchâtel / Three Lakes
Ticino
(italian speaking)
German Switzerland (Deutschschweiz)
Main white grapes in Valais?
Fendant (Chasselas)
also: Petite Arvine, Johannisberg (Silvaner), Malvoisie (Pinot Gris), Heida (Païen, Savagnin Blanc), Chardonnay, Ermitage (Marsanne), Muscat, Humagne, Pinot Blanc, Amigne, Viognier, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau
Red grapes in Valais?
Pinot Noir*
also: Gamay, Syrah, Humagne Rouge, Cornalin, Diolinoir, Merlot, Gamaret, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garanoir, Cabernet Franc, Ancellotta, Carminoir, Galotta, Durize, Eyholzer Roter
What is Dôle?
red wine from Valais, Switzerland. Min. 85% combined Pinot Noir and Gamay, plus Garanoir, Gamaret, Ancellotta, Diolinoir, Carminoir, Merlot, Syrah
Mountains in Valais?
Protected by the Alps- driest winegrowing region in Switzerland
Switzerland red Grapes
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Merlot
Cornalin
Switzerland white Grapes
Chasselas*
Chardonnay
Sylvaner (Johannisberg)
Amigne of Vétroz
Petit Arvine
Müller Thurgau
Rèze
Traditional AOCs Vaud
Dorin (chasselas)
Salvagnin - blend of Gamay and PN
Vaud influencing factors
on the shores of Lake Geneva
borders Jura
Vaud most important grape? Synonym?
Chasselas (Dorin)
Vaud regional appellations
Chablais
La Côte
Lavaux
Vully
Bonvillars
Côtes de l’Orge
What is the warm, dry wind in Valais?
Fohn
What is Vin de Glacier?
Swiss wine made from indigenous Rèze grape. Maderized wine stored in high altitude soleras
What river runs through Valais?
on banks of the Rhône River- the Rhône’s northernmost appellation
Where is Ticino? Major grape?
Southern Switzerland, borders Lombardia. Merlot.
Mild mediterranean climate, rainiest AND sunniest region of Switzerland.
What are the grand crus of Vaud? Where are they?
both in Lavaux AOC:
Dézaley AOC, Calamin AOC
What are the parent grapes of Müller Thurgau?
Riesling x Madeline Royale
created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882 at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute in Germany.
Swiss red grape crossings
Gamaret: Gamay x Reichensteiner
Garanoir: Gamay x Reichensteiner
Diolinoir: Robin Noir x Pinot Noir
Carminoir: Cabernet Sauvignon x Pinot Noir
Where does the Rhine River start and end?
The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps, and empties into the North Sea. High in the St-Gotthard Massif
It forms part of the Swiss-Liechtenstein, Swiss-Austrian, and Swiss-German borders. After that the Rhine defines much of the Franco-German border, after which it flows in a mostly northerly direction through the German Rhineland. Finally in Germany, the Rhine turns into a predominantly westerly direction and flows into the Netherlands where it eventually empties into the North Sea.
It drains an area of 9,973 sq km and its name derives from the Celtic Rēnos.
Where does the Rhône River start and end?
The river’s source is the Rhône Glacier, at the east edge of the Swiss canton of Valais. It empties into the Mediterranean, near Arles in france. High in the St-Gotthard Massif
Important cantons in Deutschschweiz/ German Switzerland? Main grapes?
Graubunden (Gantenbein is here)
Thurgau
Aargau
Zurich
PN*, Chardonnay, Müller Thurgau
What are the 3 lakes in Three Lakes, Switzerland?
Morat (Murten)
Bienne (Biel)
Neuchatel
To maximize the vines’ exposure to sunshine, they are mostly planted on the northern banks of the lakes, where the south-easterly aspect brings them warming rays all through the morning and early afternoon
What is the name of the rosé that originated in Neuchatel? What grape is it made from?
Oeil-de-Perdrix: Rosé of Pinot Noir
Neuchatel main grapes?
White: Chasselas*, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Müller Thurgau, Gewürztraminer.
Red: Pinot Noir*, Dunkelfelder, Galotta, Gamaret, Garanoir
What does “non filtré “ on a bottle of wine from Neuchatel indicate?
100% Chasselas. Released on the third Wednesday in January at an official tasting in the city’s town hall. Bottled without filtering the yeast.
What is Blanc de Perdrix?
a still blanc de pinot noir, a specialty of Neuchatel, Switzerland
AOCs of Neuchatel
Neuchatel AOC
Cheyres AOC
Lac de Bienne / Bierlesee AOC
Jura AOC
What are bisses?
steep channels of mountain water used for irrigation since the middle ages in Valais, where the summers are very dry
Describe the climate and geography of Valais?
Most vineyards are on south-east facing slopes of the Rhône valley. vineyards planted between 460 and 760m - (1500-2500ft).
Fohn wind- keeps the area warm and dry
How many grand cru are there in Valais? Name 3
12 total
Fully
Sierre
Vetroz
What is vins du glacier?
traditional dessert wine from Valais, Switzerland, specifically from Sierre. Originally made from Reze, and now made from Chasselas, Malvoisie and Ermitage (Marsanne)
similar to solera: wine is poured into a large, very old barrel, that is never emptied. it is topped up yearly, and never bottled. wine is oxidatively aged and has sherry-like character
What are the sweetness levels for Amigne de Vetroz?
Amigne de Vétroz Sweetness Indicators (required from the 2005 vintage forward):
One bee (Sèche/Trocken): 0-8 g/l residual sugar
Two bees (Légèrement Douce/Halb Süss): 9-25 g/l of residual sugar
Three bees (Douce/Süss): 25+ g/l of residual sugar
What are the swiss terms for late harvest and air dried grapes?
Flétrie - late harvest
Passerillé - air dried
List the AOCs of Vaud
Lavaux
La Cote
Chablais
Vully
Bonvillars
Côtes de l’Orbe
Main grapes in Vaud?
majority of vineyards plated to Chasselas
also: PN, Gamay
Describe the geography of Vaud
Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) to south- moderates and warms
Jura mountains to west- forms border with France
junge schweiz neue winzer
“young switzerland new winemakers” created in German Switzerland. Gantenbein, Donatsch, Studach
Most planted Canton Switzerland
Valais 5100 ha
Vaud 3882 ha
Geneva 1340 ha
Ticino 1028 ha
Neuchâtel 605 ha
Swiss Canton making more white than red
Vaud
