Switzerland Flashcards
What is a state in Switzerland called?
How many?
Canton. There are 26 autonomous cantons of Switzerland each with their own official language.
What are the four nationals languages of Switzerland
French (western), German (Eastern), Italian (Southern), and Romansch (a Romance language spoken predominantly in the southeastern Swiss canton of Grisons (Graubünden); a descendant of the spoken Latin language)
What four countries border Switzerland
France (West)
Germany (North)
Austria (East)
Italy (South)
What four French-speaking cantons produce wine in western Switzerland?
Valais, Vaud, Geneva, and Neuchâtel “NEW-sha-tell”.
What Italian-speaking canton borders Italy’s Lombardy region and what grape do they focus on?
The canton of Ticino and they focus on Merlot. Best versions occasionally achieve Pomerol-like richness.
What is the most cultivated grape in Switzerland?
Chasselas, producing refined, mineral-driven wines.
What is Sylvaner known as in Switzerland?
Johannisberg
Name two indigenous white grapes of Switzerland.
Amine of Vétroz Petite Arvine (found more in Italy's Valle d'Aosta.)
What is the most important canton in Switzerland?
Valais
What is Johannisberg?
Synonym for Silvaner in Switzerland
What is Fendant?
Synonym for Chasselas in Switzerland.
What is Dôle?
A blend of Min 85% combined Pinot Noir and Gamay in Valais.
What is Salvagnin?
Light red blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay (possibly with some gamaret and garanoir), the first appellation created in switzerland in 1960. It accounts for about half of all wine produced in the canton of Vaud.
-Vaud’s answer to Valais’ Dôle; Min. 10% Pinot Noir, Min. 50% Gamay, Min. 20% Gamaret and/or Garanoir
Where would you find the production of Dole vs Salvagnin and what is the difference between the two?
Dole is a style found in the Valais
Salvagnin is a traditional appellation found in the Vaud
-Essentially the same thing but Salvagnin uses an older clone of Pinot Noir called Servagnin (“Salvagnin” for many years was a bastardized version of the Servagnin grape and eventually became the appellation based on Gamay and the Servagnin grape.)
Dôle:
Min. 85% combined Pinot Noir and Gamay, plus Garanoir, Gamaret, Ancellotta, Diolinoir, Carminoir, Merlot, Syrah
Salvagnin
Blend: Min. 10% Pinot Noir, Min. 50% Gamay, Min. 20% Gamaret and/or Garanoir
What is Valais’ most widely produced wines?
Fendant (Chasselas) and Dôle (a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay)
Where in Switzerland is Valais
South western Switzerland clustered along the bank of the Rhône River, establishing Valais as the river’s northernmost appellation