Swiss Wine Regions

Expovina, Zurich Wine Exhibition

It's the 58th Expovina (Zurich Wine Exhibition). And What is that, you ask? Well, it's just one of the worlds largest wine conventions and probably the most important one for the Swiss wine producers, that's all.

Spread over 12 ships docked at Bürkliplatz, Zurich, it brings together 120 exhibitors with more that 4000 quality wines from around the world, and Switzerland will be well represented.

This well visited, sometimes bustling, wine conventions is a great way to taste a wide variety of wine, learn what's new in the industy, and meet some of the people making it happen. It's also a good way to kick off an evening, and Zurich's Neiderdorf (the old town) is a short stroll away.

November 3, 2011 (All day)
November 17, 2011 (All day)
Events Place: 
Bürkliplatz, Zurich
Link: 
Expovina 2011
Tags:

The Wine Grapes of Switzerland

Müller-Thurgau

Developed in Germany by Prof. Müller (from Thurgau), this early maturing white grape variety is one of the principal white grapes cultivated in German-speaking Switzerland. Produces elegant, aromatic wines when grown in cool temperate climates. In warmer locations these qualities tend to be masked by a certain heaviness and lack of acidity.

Gouais Blanc

A promiscuous grape. Not good for much, but with a long, long line of descendents, including the noble Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Possibly from Croatia, it’s called Heunisch Weiss in Central Europe.

The name Gouais is comes from ‘gou’, which is a scornful word from old French referring to its standing as the grape of the peasants. Very prevalent in the Ile-de-France and in the Champagne during the Middle Ages and perhaps brought into Valais by the descendants of the Ligurians.

Acidic and with little residual sugar, it’s primarily used to blend with low acidic wine to give it a bit of liveliness. Ampelographic studies in the old vineyards of Oberwallis have found a red Gwäss with the same characteristics as the white Gwäss. Almost abandoned, it survives in Haut-Valais hiding under the alias of Gwäss, thanks to Mr. Josef-Marie Chanton, http://www.chanton.ch/home.html

Himbertscha

Himbertscha is one of the rare indigenous white varieties from Haut-Valais, mostly at home in the vineyards of Visperterminen (Upper Valais). The name Himbertscha is said to come from a raspberry (himbeer in German) taste of the wine himbeerartigen. Jose-Marie Chanton who specializes in cultivating the old vines from Wallis makes this wine available under the quality label “Brantignon”. He also cultivates the Himbertscharebe, another “rediscovered” old Walliser white wine.

Swiss wine grape listing

Wine is made to be drunk as women are made to be loved; profit by the freshness of youth of the splendor of maturity; do not await decrepitude.

Theophile Malvezin

Swiss Alps, cows, wine bottle and large clock face in Bern, Switzerland

Fine Swiss Wine

Discover Switzerland’s odd grapes, small producers, and eclectic tastes

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