Switzerland

Country

Switzerland has a small but old and highly regarded wine industry that is almost entirely consumed at home, so its wines are rarely seen abroad. Vineyards are concentrated in the French-speaking cantons along the Rhône and Lake Geneva, especially Valais and Vaud, spanning alpine and lake-moderated terroirs.

Sub-regions

Valais

Valais is Switzerland's largest wine-producing canton, set in a dry, sun-drenched Alpine valley along the Rhône where terraced vineyards are irrigated by centuries-old glacier-fed channels called bisses. Its semi-arid climate is unusual for Switzerland and supports elegant local whites alongside reds such as Pinot Noir and Syrah.