SWISS WINE PAGE
SWISS WINE PAGE
West Switzerland comprises the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Bern and Jura. It is the largest wine-growing region of Switzerland in terms of
quantity of production and extent of the region. The area profits from the climate of the big lakes (Lake of Geneva, Lake of Bienne, Lake of Thun) regulating the
temperature and storing the heat. The amount of rainfall increases from West to East towards the Alps.
The diversity of the conditions of the soil in this region is striking: there is moraine, gneiss, clay, limestone and a variety of minerals which provide the wine with its individual character.
The most popular cutting system, with only a few exceptions, is the Gobelet-cut.
The largest part of the white wine production is Chasselas with Riesling-Sylvaner in second position. Some vinyards have started cultivating other types of vine: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Aligoté, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon, Muscat, Kerner, Findling, Sylvaner and Auxerrois. The range of red vines is less varied: Gamay and Blauburgunder are the most frequent apart from Gamaret, Granoir, Cabernet, Plant Robert (a rare type which can be found in Cully).
The big wine cellars cover the largest part of the production, the cooperatives and the wine-growers process a minor amount of the vintage. In recent years measures have been introduced to prevent overproduction and to guarantee an improved quality.