Varietal diversity of Swiss wines
Viniculturists grow wine grapes throughout practically all of Switzerland. But most of the country’s wine production is concentrated in a few well-known regions: 33% of Switzerland’s wine-growing area is in canton Valais and 26% is in canton Vaud. Although the vineyards are home to more than 200 different grape varieties, the market is dominated by a few prominent ones, with pinot noir, chasselas, gamay and merlot being the most widespread grape types.
A basic distinction is drawn between red wine, white wine, rosé and sparkling wine. Red wine is obtained from blue grapes and is fermented on the skins to extract their pigment. With white wine, only the juice is fermented, and white grape varieties are usually used to make it. Rosés are light pink wines made from red grapes and are produced in the same manner as white wine. With sparkling wine, in contrast, part of the fermentation process takes place inside the bottle. The resulting carbon dioxide produced makes the beverage fizzy.
The Swiss drink around 32 liters of wine per capita each year, two-thirds of it red wine. The market share of Swiss wines in Switzerland stands at a good 36%.
