Switzerland Flashcards
Switzerland is a loose confederation of regions, a collection of towns, they call what?
How many are there, and into what 3 groups can they be divided?
Cantons
26 Cantons, divy them up by language.
In the West, the French speaking portions around Geneva.
In the East, the German speaking portions.
In Ticino in the South, Italian is spoken.
In the Italian Canton of Ticino, whats the grape most widely cultivated?
Merlot
How can the Swiss wine industry be described?
Commercial Viticulture is an outlier. The 15,000ha of vineyard in the country are divided amongst thousands of growers.
In what geological formation do the Rhine and Rhone rivers originate?
Gotthard Massif
What is the important wine producing Canton on Lake Geneva?
Vaud
In the Vaud Canton, there are 6 regional AOC’S as of 2010. What are they?
La Cote
Lavaux
Chablais
Cotes de l’Orbe
Vully
Bonvillars
What is the most widely planted white grape in Switzerland?
What percent of Swiss plantings is the grape?
Chasselas
about 26%
What is the most widely planted grape overall in Switzerland?
What percent of Swiss plantings is that grape?
Pinot Noir (28%)
What are the 2 prominent AOC of the Vaud?
What moderates their climate?
Lavaux AOC
La Cote AOC
Lake Geneva
Chasselas has many synonyms in Switzerland. Name 4.
Gutedel
Fendant
Dorin
Perlan
What percent of the vineyard in Vaud is planted to Chasselas?
60%
Sylvaner goes by what name in Switzerland?
Johannisberg
Which Vaud AOC is along the Eastern North shore of Geneva.
Which two Grand Cru’s are here? What is the soil type for each?
Lavaux AOC
Dezaley (limestone)
Calamin (clay)
What Vaud AOC is along the Western North shore of Geneva?
Which 3 villages are highly regarded?
La Cote AOC
Fechy, Mont sur Rolle, Morges
What is Salvagnin and where is it produced?
Its a red wine, a blend of Gamay and Servagnin (pinot clone), made in La Cote AOC in the Vaud. Similar idea to the Valais’ Dole.
What river defines the Valais AOC?
Where is this region located?
Along the Rhone as it flows to Geneva
East of Lake Geneva
What percent of Swiss production does the Valais account for?
about 50%
What is the climate like in the Valais AOC?
Very dry, very sunny. Rainshadow from the Alps, and irrigation is necessary.
What are the irrigation vessels called in the Valais? How long have they been around?
Bisses. Since the middle ages.
What is Lafnetscha?
An ancient indigenous white grape in the Valais.
What is Himbertscha?
An ancient indigenous white grape from Valais
What is Gwass?
In Switzerland, the grape Gouais Blanc, one of Chardonnay’s parents.
What is the most cultivated white grape in the Valais?
Chasselas
What is Dole? Where is it from?
A traditional blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, from the Valais
What is Pinot Gris called in the Valais?
Malvoisie
What is Marsanne called in the Valais?
Ermitage
In Valais, you bought a bottle of ‘Vin de Glacier’.
What is the grape, and production method for this wine?
Reze is the grape, its a maderized wine aged in Solera, somewhat like a Vin Jaune
How are Grand Cru’s determined in the Valais?
By Canton/Commune. Usually by grape rather than vineyard.
How is Grand Cru determined around Geneva producers?
By tasting panel for a specific wine
A Swiss Blanc de Blanc will be typically made from what grape?
Chasselas
What are the 3 requirements of a Grand Cru in the Vaud?
Single Vintage
90% minimum from single village
Min Oeschle is higher.
What is Oeil de Perdrix?
A still rose made from Pinot Noir in Neuchatel. (Partridge Eye)
What is the grape of Perdrix Blanc?
Pinot Noir
What grape is used to make ‘La Gerle’ wines of Neuchatel? What is the Gerle d’Or?
Chasselas
A quality designation for the best wines using that grape in the area.
What is Amigne?
What unique item appears on a label of this wine, and what does it mean?
A white grape from Valais, from the Vetroz commune.
Abeilles or ‘Bees’ that denote sweetness.
1 Bee is less than 8g/L
2 Bees is 9-25g/L
3 Bees is 25+ g/L
What does Fletrie mean?
Passerille?
Fletrie means Late Harvest
Passerille means air dried grapes
