Swiss Wines: Discovering Ancient Traditions and New Wines to Enjoy

With the news that Piazza Messina will host one of the first-ever introductions of Swiss wines in the U.S., we decided it would be fun to share some information on the relatively unknown history and perspective on Swiss wines. Although a region mainly unknown to American consumers, Switzerland’s winemaking traditions are genuinely ancient. Let’s decant what we’ve learned and see what we are excited to share with our friends and fans.

The Allobroges are generally credited with creating Swiss wine, planting their first vineyards around 800 BCE, and producing wines sometime thereafter. Modern winemaking arrived with the assimilation of the Celtic tribes into the Roman Empire. Subsequently controlled by the Kings of Burgundy, the country boasts the world’s oldest surviving winery (the monastery of St. Maurice d’Agaune, founded in 515) and has a longstanding love affair with Pinot Noir that dates back to 1419.

The climate and soils of Switzerland differ drastically from other areas of Europe. Shaped by the formation of the Alps, the country’s climate is significantly impacted by the Foehn Alpine winds. The glacial movements of the last Ice Age created at least fifteen different soil types across the country, each boasting countless sub-variations derived from the rich Morainic deposits that dot the landscape. These basic macroclimatic

elements create conditions of incredible diversity for the production of great wine, further influenced by Switzerland’s primary water sources, of which four rivers and seven lakes are critical:

The Lakes & Rivers of Switzerland

Bienne Aare

Constance Limmat

Geneva Rhine

Lugano Rhone

Morat

Neuchatel

Zurich

Switzerland’s wine industry has undergone major changes in recent decades. Long famous for producing interesting white wines, the country has significantly expanded its production of complex red wines. Countless historic and largely forgotten grape varieties have been resurrected across the country’s 26 wine-growing cantons, resulting in 252 varieties. Today, two of these grapes—Pinot Noir and Chasselas—dominate the Swiss landscape and account for roughly half the total grape production.

Featured Wineries for the February 27, 2025 Event

Maison Rouge

Cedric Flaction founded Maison Rouge as one of the region’s leading producers. Boasting eighteen hectares, the estate straddles four AOC zones of central Valais. Key plots on the rich alluvial soils of Chamoson and Conthey comprise the winery’s most significant holdings and are home to Johannisberg, Petite Arvine, Paien, and Merlot. Smaller parcels in the Leytron AOC allow for the cultivation of Humagne Blanc and Humagne Rouge. These ancient Swiss varieties can also be found alongside Cornalin and Pinot Noir in the winery’s Sierre AOC vineyards.

Domaine Grisoni 

Tucked into the Jura foothills and sharing a border with France, Switzerland’s Three Lacs. The region is home to the country’s greatest Chasselas and Pinot Noir. Here, some 932 hectares of vines flourish across three cantons, taking advantage of the gently rolling slopes and enviable microclimate that is derived from an immediate proximity to the lakes of Neuchatel, Bienne, and Morat. Located near Cressier in the heart of the Entre-deux-Lacs district, Domaine Grisoni was founded in 1937.

St. Jodern

The largest of Switzerland’s wine-producing regions, Valais shares an Alpine border with France and Italy. Carved by the retreating glaciers of the last Ice Age, the turbulent terrain is famous for its terraced vineyards that majestically overlook the Northern banks of the Rhone River. Though mountainous, Valais is known for its sunny climate and warm growing season. Further assisted by the Alpine Foehn winds, this unique microclimate allows vineyard cultivation to occur at much higher altitudes than other parts of Europe.

JOIN US!

On February 27, 2025, you can delve into the rare world of Swiss wines with an extraordinary wine-pairing event featuring exceptional wines from three award-winning producers in Switzerland. Thanks to our partners at Tavolo Vigneto Wines LLC, we have the exclusive honor of introducing these outstanding wines to our guests.

You will have the opportunity to taste and purchase the featured wines before anyone else in the U.S.! THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT — don’t miss the chance to meet the vintners, savor these exceptional wines, and create unforgettable memories!