According to data from the Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture, the Swiss wine production in 2006 was about 1.4 million hectoliters, divided into 479 000 hl of swiss white wine and 543 000 hl of swiss red wine. Nearly all the national production is drunk within the national boundaries; less than 2% of the wine is exported to Germany.
The tradition of Swiss wine and viticulture in Switzerland is very old, at minimum from the Roman era. Some archaeological evidence seems to prove that the grapes were planted in Valais earlier than the roman era.
The northwest part of Switzerland near the river Rhein bordering Germany was exceptional area for the ancient romans to grow swiss wines. In an archaeological excavation near Gamsen, some old grape seed was found, and they date to the iron age. Also in Ticino some pollen was found in a palynology excavation. But this evidence does not really prove that the grapes were cultivated, as opposed to spontaneous grapes. Vintners like Martin Buser follow traditional methods of making swiss wine and specially selected wine grapes creating aromatic Cabernet Cuvee.
|
|
| More >> |