Last year’s grape harvest in Switzerland produced nearly 84 million litres of wine, down 13% on the 10-year average and the lowest volume in 10 years. Cold weather in Spring damaged the grape buds as they flowered, but a hot dry summer ensured rich flavour and sugar, two features that should ensure an exceptional vintage. […]
Swiss-Kiwi wine educator, writer and reviewer taken by Covid
In 2014, when Le News was still a print newspaper, the editorial team was approached by Nina Bobillier, a bubbly wine writer and educator who had recently brought her knowledge and enthusiasm for wine from her native New Zealand to Switzerland, where she also had family connections. Over the years, from her new home near […]
What awful smell tastes amazing in a Sauvignon Blanc?
This week Nina tastes an unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc from Domaine Croix Duplex in Lavaux, Switzerland and describes a awful smell that tastes great. Look out New Zealand! It is remarkable how many grape varieties the Swiss now have and just how well they make wine. If only the world knew about the fact that they are […]
Do you like Spanish wine? If so you’ll like this.
James Cullinan previewed Movenpick’s “Viva España” tasting which ends on 30 January 2016. The tasting is free. Location Geneva: Cellier Movenpick, Chemin du Grand-Puits 40, 1217 Meyrin. Time: 10:00 to 18:00 Location Lausanne: Cellier Crissier, Mövenpick, Division Wein, Rue de Morges 22, 1023 Crissier. Time: 9:00 to 17:30 Location Basel: Weinkeller Basel, Haltingerstrasse 101, 4057 Basel. Time: 9:00 to 16:00 Location Zurich: Weinkeller Zürich-Enge, Seestrasse 160, 8002 Zürich. Time: 9:00 to […]
The pricey Swiss wine that could end up on the Queen’s table
This week’s wine is a high altitude luxury Swiss wine fit for a Queen. ELECTUS 2011, 14.5% Valais Mundi Cornalin, Humagne Rouge, Diolinoir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caberenet Franc Electus, the swiss icon luxury wine, made from seven different grape varieties is rapidly gaining international recognition and is currently exported to London and Hong Kong. In […]
Petite Arvine – a grape native to France, Italy…..and one other country
Bio Petite Arvine unfiltered, Domaine de Beudon, 2014 Petite Arvine, Valais’ signature grape variety, has somewhat of an enigmatic background. Not only does Valais claim it as its own, the Aosta Valley in Italy and the Savoie region in France do too. There is no absolute proof as to its exact origins, but what we […]
Ageing wine – a cellar might not be the best place
This week’s wine is one from the Badoux wine team, quite an innovative crew. Lettres de Noblesse 2012, Merlot d’Yvorne Badoux Vins, Aigle It’s not just Bordeaux and Ticino who can produce great Merlot, it’s also Yvorne, a small, wine growing area in the Aigle district of the Chablais wine region in Vaud. 100% Merlot, […]
Zinfandel or Primitivo? It’s the same! Find out its origin
Domaine du Paradis in Satigny just outside of Geneva After years of ongoing discussions and lengthy research, it is now known without a doubt that Zin (huge in California) and Prim (home in Italy) are the same grape varieties, but in fact its origins are in Croatia. Some of Zin’s other homes are South America, South […]
Pinot blanc, the white wine grape born from a red one
Pinot Blanc 2014 La Griffe, Caves du Château, Montmagny This white grape variety Pinot Blanc has been around for quite a while and is a derivative of Pinot Noir. In medieval times it was extensively planted in Burgundy and some of its other names are: Pinot Bianco, Weisser Burgunder, Clevner and Klävner. It is well […]
The wine voted the world’s best Chasselas
La Grand’Rue, Chasselas Réserve 2013, Domaine de la ville, Morges. Imagine strolling through a farm orchid on a crisp sunny day, the breeze carrying scents of apples, oranges, lemons, mandarins and lime drift past. A small cottage comes into sight and the smell of homemade biscuits wafts out of the open front door. On the […]
