Switzerland Flashcards
5 Swiss wine cantons - greatest production to least
- Valais
- Vaud
- Geneva
- Ticino
- Neuchatel
Swiss wine south of Alps
Ticino only
“Modified Mediterranean” climate, warm enough for olive oil production
Switzerland’s most planted
- Pinot Noir
- Chasselas
- Gamay
- Merlot
- Muller Thurgau
Vin des Glaciers
- where
- style & tradition
- varieties
Specialty of Valais
Coteaux de Sierre’s Val d’Anniviers
* sherry style solera wine, barrels are continually topped up harvest to harvest
* Réze = traditional variety. Other varieties are now used: Ermitage, Malvoisie, Petite Arvine, Fendant and Humagne Blanc.
* not sold, only consumed drawn direction from barrel
Definition of a Föhn wind
Dry, relatively warm downslope wind in lee of a mountain range.
- rain shadow wind; moisture was dropped on windward slopes and warms as it goes downslope
Valais’ river?
Rhône River - this is where it begins
Most planted Swiss canton?
Valais - 5200ha, 40% of total Swiss vineyard
Valais’ topography
Mountainous - steep slopes emphasize vineyard orientation, aiding drainage and maximizing sunlight exposure (slopes up to 90%/42º)
Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel
- region & style
- varieties
- vine age
- oechsle
- time in wood
Valais; est 1996
* A label seal of quality for traditional sweet wines
* Ermitage, Petite Arvine, Amigne, Johannisberg), Malvoisie, Païen
* vine age min 15 years
* 130º Oechsle, no chaptalization
* min 12 months in wood
Dôle
Specialty of Valais
* 2021 on - either pure Pinot Noir or min. 51% Pinot Noir (dominant) with Gamay
Amigne de Vetroz
Valais (Grand Cru)
“Bee system”
1 bee = dry; 0 - 8gl
2 bee = semi; 9-25gl
3 bee = sweet; 25+
Vaud AOC’s (6)
- Lavaux AOC
[Grand Crus: Dézaley AOC, Calamin AOC] - La Côte AOC
- Chablais AOC
- Vully AOC
- Côtes de l’Orbe AOC
- Bonvillars AOC
Lavaux Grand Cru’s
Dézaley AOC, Calamin AOC
(this is in the Vaud)
French/German name for Ticino
Tessin
Most planted grapes in the Vaud
- Fendant (Chasselas) = 60% of vineyard
- Pinot
- Gamay
Vaud’s western boundary - what geographic feature?
Jura Mountains