Switzerland - Regions Flashcards
Major Wine-Producing Cantons of Switzerland
The 4 French Speaking cantons, and the Italian speaking canton of Ticino.
-
1) Neuchâtel
- oiel de perdrix is a speciality (rosé)
- blanc de perdrix in a specialty (white PN)
- “non-filtre” wines are a specialty
2) Vaud
3) Geneva
- tiny area
4) Valais
- Home of Dole
- 49 grapes qualify for this
5) Ticino
- On the border of Lombardy.
- Merlot is a 80% of plantings
Languages of Switzerland
in the Cantons
West
4 French-speaking cantons:
Valais**, **Vaud**, **Geneva, and Neuchâtel
East
17 German-speaking cantons
(Zurich - Bern - Fribourg- Lucerne)
South
1 Italian speaking canton
Ticino borders Italy’s Lombardy region.
Almost exclusively focused on the Merlot grape.
What are the subdivision of
Neuchâtel?
- *La Béroche**
- (on Lake Neuchâtel)*
- *The Coast**
- (on Lake Neuchâtel)*
- *Entre-deux-Lacs**
- (on Lake Bienne)*
What are the “Specialty” wines of
Neuchâtel?
Oeil-de-Perdrix
Rosé of Pinot Noir
Blanc-de-Perdrix
Pinot Noir Blanc
‘Non-Filtre‘
Bottled without filtering the yeast.
(can be slightly sparkling)
What is La Gerle in
Neuchâtel?
A “stamp” of quality for wines made of Chasselas.
Awarded after a tasting examination.
What grapes are allowed for
Neuchâtel Canton?
White
- Chasselas*, (Slightly sparkling if ‘Non Filtré’),
- Chardonnay, *_Pinot Gris_, Pinot Blanc,
-
Muller Thurgau, *_Gewürztraminer_
(note: these whites are the same as Geneve except that Gewurz is not allowed in Geneve)
Red
Pinot Noir Only!!
What are the requirements of
Neuchâtel Canton Classification?
The wines of Neuchatel are separated into quality classes:
Class 1
Has a sense of place and/or typicity.
A place down to as small as a commune can be listed.
Class 2
Comes from the place on the label…
Class 3
It is wine (red or white)
(seriously, this is the answer.)
What are the Sub-Regions of
Geneve Canton?
Mandement
Entre Arve et Rhone
Entre Arve et Lac
What grapes are allowed for AOC in
Geveve Canton?
White
Perlan (aka: Chasselas), Chardonnay,
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muller Thurgau
(note: these whites are the same as Neuchatel except that Gewurz is not allowed here)
Red
- Pinot Noir, *_Gamay_, Gamaret, Garanoir,
- Merlot, *_Cabernet Sauvignon_, Cabernet Franc
What is
Geneve Grand Cru?
Wines are tasted by a panel and individual wines are awarded Grand Cru status each year.
Note:
- There are 21 specified 1er Cru vineyards.
- Though, it is unclear if these 21 are the only one eligible to be tasted for Grand Cru, or if that is open to any wine that is deemed meritous…
What are the AOC of
Vaud Canton?
VBC-LLC
- *Vully AOC**
- Northeastern shore of Lake Neuchâtel*
- *Bonvillars AOC**
- Southwestern shore of Lake Neuchâtel*
- *Côtes de l’Orbe AOC**
- 2 areas:*
- south of Bonvillars AOC
- southwestern shore of Lake Neuchâtel*
- *La Côte AOC**
- Northwest shore of Lake Léman/Geneva*
- *Lavaux AOC**
- North shore of Lake Léman/Geneva*
- Calamin Grand Cru AOC
- Dézaley Grand Cru AOC*
- *Chablais AOC**
- Eastern shore of Lake Léman/Geneva*
==========
Note:
They almost all sound like AOP of Burgundy:
Lavaux (-St Jacques 1er in Gevrey…)
La Côte (d’Or…)
Chablis (yup, that one…)
Vully (Rully…)
Côte de l’Orbe (Côte d’Or, again…)
Bonvillars (I got nuthin’ for this one…;)
What are the requirements of
Vaud Premiere Grand Cru?
1) Wines must be based on:
* -Chasselas* (75° Öchsle) (Max 0.8 l/m²)
* -Gamay* (80° Öchsle) (Max 0.64 l/m²)
* -Pinot Noir* (85° Öchlse) (Max 0.64 l/m²)
2) Production & bottling must take place in the Vaud Canton
3) 100% of fruit from same terroir
3a) Vineyards must have a “story”…
(whatever the hell that means)
4) Wines must be Vintage dated
5) Wines must be hand-harvested
6) 7 years minimum vine age
7) When all these criteria are met, wines can be submitted to Commission des Premier Grands Crus.
Note:
Wines must be submitted every year. There is no guarantee of acceptace for each vintage
What are the Grand Crus of Valais?
FVC-SS
Fully
(W) - Petite Arvine, Ermitage
(R) - Gamay, Syrah
Vétroz
(W) - Chasselas, Amigne
(R) - Gamay, Pinot Noir
-bee system is here - Amigne de Vétroz
- *Conthey**
- (W) - Fendant, Chardonnay,*
- (R) - Pinot Noir,* Gamay, Cornalin
Saint-Léonard
Salquenen
What grapes can be Grand Cru in
Fully Grand Cru?
(Valais)
White
Petite Arvine - Ermitage/Marsanne
Red
Gamay - Syrah
What grapes can be Grand Cru in
Conthey Grand Cru?
(Valais)
White
Fendant/Chasselas - Chardonnay
Red
Pinot Noir - Gamay - Cornalin
What grapes can be Grand Cru in
Vétroz Grand Cru?
(Valais)
White
Chasselas - Amigne
Red
Gamay - Pinot Noir
Note:
-bee system is here - Amigne de Vétroz
What is the specialty wine of
Valais Canton?
Vin des Glacier
A maderized wine stored in high altitude soleras made from the indigenous Rèze grape variety. (source: GuildSomm)
Note:
- I’m not sure if “maderized” is the correct term to use. Most other sources say it is a Sherry style wine made from a topped up solera style system of production. There is no mention of heat added to the wines…
Amigne de Vétroz Sweetness Indicators
System used for the sweetness levels of the wines of the Vétroz Grand Cru of Valais canton.
One bee: less than 8 g/l residual sugar
Two bees: 9-25 g/l of residual sugar
Three bees: 25+ g/l of residual sugar
What are the sub-regions of
Ticino Canton?
- *Sopraceneri**
- (North of Monte Ceneri)*
- *Sottoceneri**
- (South of Monte Ceneri)*
Most planted white grape (Switzerland)
Chasselas
What is
Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
- *A label seal of quality for traditional sweet wines.**
- created in 1996.
Allowed 6 Varieties: JEM-PAP:
- - Johannisberg - (aka: Silvaner)*
- - Ermitage* - (aka: Marsanne)
- - Malvoisie* - (aka: Pinot Gris)
- - Paien* - (aka: Heida, Savagnin)
- - Amigne*
- - Petite Arvine*
Minimum Vine Age: 15 years
Minimum Must Weight: 130° Oechsle
- (no chaptalization)
- so this is basically a Beerenauslese**…
Minimum Aging: *12 months min in wood
What are the allowed grapes of
Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
JEM-PAP:
- Johannisberg - (aka: Silvaner)
- Ermitage - (aka: Marsanne)
- Malvoisie - (aka: Pinot Gris)
- Paien - (aka: Heida, Savagnin)
- Amigne
- Petite Arvine
==========
Minimum Vine Age: 15 years
Minimum Must Weight: 130° Oechsle
- (no chaptalization)
- so this is basically a Beerenauslese…
Minimum Aging: *12 months min in wood
What is the minimum vine age of
Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
Minimum Vine Age: 15 years
==========
JEM-PAP:
- Johannisberg - (aka: Silvaner)
- Ermitage - (aka: Marsanne)
- Malvoisie - (aka: Pinot Gris)
- Paien - (aka: Heida, Savagnin)
- Amigne
- Petite Arvine
Minimum Must Weight: 130° Oechsle
- (no chaptalization)
- so this is basically a Beerenauslese…
Minimum Aging: *12 months min in wood
What is the minimum aging of
Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
Minimum Aging: *12 months min in wood
==========
JEM-PAP:
- Johannisberg - (aka: Silvaner)
- Ermitage - (aka: Marsanne)
- Malvoisie - (aka: Pinot Gris)
- Paien - (aka: Heida, Savagnin)
- Amigne
- Petite Arvin
Minimum Vine Age: 15 years
Minimum Must Weight: 130° Oechsle
- (no chaptalization)
- so this is basically a Beerenauslese…
