About
Notable for its silky smooth red wines, the German speaking region accounts for nearly one fifth of the nation’s vine and is perhaps best considered as three geographical sub-zones:- Basel and Aargau in the west of the country, the central belt comprising - amongst others - the cantons of Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Zürich, and the renowned eastern provinces of Graubünden and St. Gallen. There is also a smattering of small parcels along the banks of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland, around Oberhofen and the beautiful fortified town of Spiez. Mirroring the national picture, red varieties dominate production across this region with nearly 75% of the area under vine given over to these grapes. Pinot Noir - known locally as Blauburgunder, has plantings of more than one-thousand hectares whilst much smaller areas of Regent and Cabernet Jura can be found around the municipality of Zürich and in the western cantons. Covering one quarter of the vineyard area and accounting for around a third of production, white grape varieties across the German Speaking region are markedly different from those found in other areas. Whilst the regions of Lac Léman (Vaud and Geneva) are dominated by the Chasselas grape and the Valais is famed for its cultivation of rare indigenous varieties, in the sub-zones of German Speaking Switzerland Müller-Thurgau (usually referred to as Riesling-Sylvaner) reigns supreme. Other white grapes represented here include (in order of their respective areas under vine) - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and the old German variety, Raüschling. Unsurprisingly, given the geographical sprawl of the region, the growing conditions of each sub-zone (and each appellation within the sub-zones) is nothing if not diverse. Geology, climate and producer choice are broad, and with a topography that runs from low lying lakes to high alpine peaks - with a bit of everything in-between - the wines of the region range significantly in style and character. Encompassing so much of this wonderfully enchanting country - from cosmopolitan Zürich to culture-soaked Basel; from the tranquil lakesides of Lucerne to the dramatic mountain tops of Graubünden; from urban adventure to idyllic countryside retreat, the scenic vineyards of Switzerland’s German Speaking region offer plenty for both the casual consumer and the connoisseur.
