Switzerland

Question 1

5 Swiss wine cantons - greatest production to least

Answer 1

1. Valais
2. Vaud
3. Geneva
4. Ticino
5. Neuchatel

Question 2

Swiss wine south of Alps

Answer 2

Ticino only
“Modified Mediterranean” climate, warm enough for olive oil production

Question 3

Switzerland’s most planted

Answer 3

1. Pinot Noir
2. Chasselas
3. Gamay
4. Merlot
5. Muller Thurgau

Question 4

Vin des Glaciers
- where
- style & tradition
- varieties

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Definition of a Föhn wind

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Valais’ river?

Answer 6

Rhône River - this is where it begins

Question 7

Most planted Swiss canton?

Answer 7

Valais - 5200ha, 40% of total Swiss vineyard

Question 8

Valais’ topography

Answer 8

Mountainous - steep slopes emphasize vineyard orientation, aiding drainage and maximizing sunlight exposure (slopes up to 90%/42º)

Question 9

Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel
- region & style
- varieties
- vine age
- oechsle
- time in wood

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Dôle

Answer 10

Specialty of Valais
* 2021 on - either pure Pinot Noir or min. 51% Pinot Noir (dominant) with Gamay

Question 11

Amigne de Vetroz

Answer 11

Valais (Grand Cru)
“Bee system”
1 bee = dry; 0 - 8gl
2 bee = semi; 9-25gl
3 bee = sweet; 25+

Question 12

Vaud AOC’s (6)

Answer 12

1. Lavaux AOC
   [Grand Crus: Dézaley AOC, Calamin AOC]
2. La Côte AOC
3. Chablais AOC
4. Vully AOC
5. Côtes de l’Orbe AOC
6. Bonvillars AOC

Question 13

Lavaux Grand Cru’s

Answer 13

Dézaley AOC, Calamin AOC
(this is in the Vaud)

Question 14

French/German name for Ticino

Answer 14

Tessin

Question 15

Most planted grapes in the Vaud

Answer 15

1. Fendant (Chasselas) = 60% of vineyard
2. Pinot
3. Gamay

Question 16

Vaud’s western boundary - what geographic feature?

Answer 16

Jura Mountains

Question 17

Flagship variety of Ticino

Answer 17

Merlot (replanted after phylloxera - now 80% of area)
* has its own AC - Merlo del Ticino

Question 18

Ticino climate

Answer 18

“Modified Mediterranean”
- sunniest in CH: 2100 - 2286avg
- rainiest: Mediterranean air moves over Alps and turns into rain on way up

Question 19

Neuchatel’s 3 lakes

Answer 19

Morat
Bienne
Neuchatel

Question 20

Neuchatel - Three Lakes topography

Answer 20

Covers 3 cantons - Neuchatel, Bern, Fribourg

Flat, low-lying areas around lakes

Question 21

Most planted grapes in Geneva canton

Answer 21

1 Gamay

#2 Chasselas
#3 Pinot Noir

Question 22

Swiss Oeil de Perdrix

Answer 22

Historical specialty of Neuchatel, spread to Vaud, Valais, Geneva in 19th/20th centuries

Question 23

Grand Cru systems in Valais, Geneva, Vaud

Answer 23

• Geneva: Individual wines - awarded yearly
• Vaud: Dezaley, Calamin.
• Valais: 12 villages

Question 24

La Béroche
The Coast
Entre-deux-Lacs

Answer 24

Subdivisions of Neuchatel

Question 25

Neuchatel specialties

Answer 25

- Oeil-de-Perdrix: Rosé of Pinot Noir. - Non Filtré: 100% Chasselas. Released 3rd Wed in Jan at official town hall tasting. Bottled without filtering the yeast. - Perdrix Blanc: Still Blanc de Pinot Noir.

Question 26

La Gerle

Answer 26

Neuchatel, est 1985 * label awarded to Chasselas reaching a certain quality * awarded to top wine yearly

Question 27

Mandement Entre Arve et Rhône Entre Arve et Lac

Answer 27

subregions of Geneva

Question 28

Garanoir, Gamaret

Answer 28

Gamay x Reichensteiner

Question 29

Lake Geneva (Leman)

Answer 29

Border of France and Suisse Savoie side: Vin de Savoie AOC’s (mostly chasselas wines) Suisse side: Vaud Canton AOC’s on the North shore (La Cote, Lavaux, Chablais)

Question 30

What is the local name for chasselas in a) Valais b) Vaud c) Geneva

Answer 30

a) Fendant b) Dorin c) Perlan

Question 31

Swiss synonyms for Savagnin

Answer 31

Heida Paien

Question 32

Swiss synonym for Marsanne

Answer 32

Ermitage

Question 33

Swiss synonym for Sylvaner

Answer 33

Johannisberg

Question 34

Name for vineyard terraces in Switzerland

Answer 34

Tablars

Question 35

What is vianco?

Answer 35

merlot bianco from Ticino

Question 36

Swiss cantons that produce more whites than red?

Answer 36

Vaud only - spiritual home of Fendant aka Chasselas

Question 37

Lake Constance - German name and 3 surrounding growing areas?

Answer 37

Bodensee - Suisse (Thurgau - NE) - Germany (Baden-Wurttemburg - SW) - Austria (Vorarlberg - W) Rhine flows in from South and out in the North

Question 38

Name 3 Grand Cru's of Valais

Answer 38

Sierre, Vertex, Fully, Saillon, Ville de Sion 1. Conthey 2. Chamoson 3. Fully 4. Leytron 5. Saillon 6. Saint-Leonard 7. Salquenen 8. Saviese 9. Sierre 10. Ville de Sion 11. Visperterminen 12. Vetroz

Question 39

Base grape for Oeil de Perdrix in Switzerland

Answer 39

Pinot Noir

Question 40

Nostrano del Ticino

Answer 40

local wine made from the Bondola grape plus other reds - known as “Grotto” wine

Question 41

What are “bisses?”

Answer 41

Irrigational channels used in mountains, esp. in Valais