Swiss wine art at the Kunsthaus Zürich

At the Kunsthaus Zürich, the event is in the right place, because the finest wines are works of art of a special kind that never cease to amaze. Wine appeals to all our senses, triggers emotions, awakens associations, and evokes memories of times long past, thought forgotten.

The very rich programme must be analysed in its moments which started already at 10,30 in the morning with the presentation of the winners of the Vintage Awards from 2021 to 2025, who had two of their best wines of the last ten years for tasting at three different stages of maturation. 24 winemakers who demonstrated that they can produce wines that can be aged without fear of contradiction. For the occasion, the Swiss Wine Connection dedicated the Retrospective to the doyen of the Swiss wine scene, Louis-Philippe Bovard, who at 91 still runs his renowned winery in Cully on Lake Geneva. Philippe Bovard always emphasizes the great aging potential of Swiss wine and therefore its future. It is no coincidence that from 2002 until 2004 he was an external consultant for the Memoir of Swiss Wines, when it wasn't yet an official club, but an informal one. "We thank Louis-Philippe with this small tribute for his great service to Swiss wine and wish him all the best for the future." Words from Andreas Keller upon receiving a Riedel decanter.

From 13: 00 to 18: 00 The Caves of Château d'Auvernier and La Maison Carrée, two of Neuchâtel's most prestigious wineries, presented a vertical comparative tasting of their great Pinot Noirs from 2022 to 2014. The wines were commented on by the two producers, Henry Aloys Grosjean and Alexandre Perrochet. The meeting was moderated by Dr. Rudolf Trefzer, cultural historian and publicist.

From 15: 00 to 18: 00 it was possible to taste the wines of 133 winning producers of the Swiss Wine Vintage Award 2025The sommeliers and producers offered a free tasting of the best winning wines of the 2015 vintage. Divided into 6 stations, it was possible to taste, glass in hand, 58 samples divided as follows: 12 wines from the Valais; 13 from the Geneva region; 9 from the Grisons area; 12 regional Pinot Noir wines; 13 wines from different blends and finally 8 whites and reds from Ticino.

Monday, August 25th – from 11:00 to 19:00 the event was held at Chipperfield-Bau Kunsthaus Zürich, in the same square as the Pfister-Bau Kunsthaus Zürich event the previous day. Attendees were able to taste the new releases and learn more through special workshops, including one on the Chasselas Premier Grand Cru from the Canton of Vaud and another on the presentation of the 100 years of Valais Syrah.

This grand showcase of the Swiss wine scene featured 130 top producers from across the country, who provided an overview of current Swiss wine production, including some sold-out wines that can't be tasted elsewhere. Each producer offered six wines to the numerous attendees.

Numerous side events starting at 11.30am with the Riedel Wine Experience WorkshopAn exciting sensory workshop with crystal expert Christian Kraus, who illustrated how Riedel glasses, specific to each grape variety, best enhance the aroma and flavor of a wine. The Riedel family, originally from Bohemia, has a tradition of glassmaking, rich in touching legends and incredible success stories, including economic crises and coups d'état. With skill and creativity, this family-run business has established itself as an exclusive glassmaker for over 260 years. Today, the company, headquartered in Kufstein in Tirol,...

At 13.30 presentation of Centenary of Syrah in ValaisThe Interprofession de la Vigne et du Vins du Valais presented long-sold-out Valais Syrah RISERVEs in an exciting workshop led by ampelogeneticist Dr. José Vouillamoz, who also presented his new book GRANDS CEPAGES D'ORIGINE FRANCAISE, where several pages were dedicated specifically to Syrah. Syrah originated in the Isère department of France from a cross between two rare grape varieties: Dureza from the Ardèche department and Mondeuse blanche from Savoie. Syrah was actually introduced to Valais in 1921 by agricultural engineer Dr. Henry Wuilloud at the Domaine de l'Etat du Valais in Leytron, and planting only took place the following spring of 1922. Therefore, the 2025 vintage represents the 100th Syrah harvest in Valais. A hundred years to celebrate! The same José Vouillamoz he conducted a Masterclass called: Terroir Studie von Auvernier, Pinot noir The vertical tasting included two wines, one from Auvernier and the other from Les Argilles, from vintages ranging from 2022 to 2014. It was a remarkable vertical tasting, where the Pinot Noir demonstrated its qualities, including its ability to hold up over time.

Hours 15.00 - 17.00 – Vaudois savoir-vivre. The winemakers of the Féchy Vignoble Classé association offered their finest wines to guests in the Kunsthaus bar, which was transformed into Pinte de Féchy, until late at night to accompany the culinary specialties, thus bringing the charming Vaudois region and its hospitality to life. Féchy is a picturesque wine-growing village in the heart of the Vaudois wine region. La Côte between Lausanne and Geneva, which is idyllically located in the middle of a rolling hilly landscape

above Lake Geneva, facing Mont Blanc. Viticulture here has a long history dating back about a thousand years. Today, 22 smaller and larger wineries cultivate the vineyards, which are known for their excellent soils and temperate microclimate. The main grape variety is Chasselas, This winery produces fresh and elegant white wines with subtle floral and mineral notes. These wines pair perfectly with fish and cheese dishes, or simply as an aperitif. Along with Chasselas, we also find Pinot Noir, Gamay, Gamaret, Galottta, and international varieties, which create an exciting variety in the glass.

Retrospective on German-speaking SwitzerlandAcross all German-speaking cantons, there are a total of 2.662 hectares (2024 hectares) of cultivated vineyards. The lion's share, in descending order, belongs to the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen, Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, and St. Gallen. Pinot Noir grows on three-quarters of the vineyard area (Pinot Noir). Among the white grape varieties, Müller-Thurgau and Riesling-Silvaner are used.

What did we learn from this Swiss Wine Tasting 2025 in Zurich?

Although viticulture in Switzerland is relatively small and has a limited vineyard area, it boasts a winemaking tradition that dates back centuries. Switzerland It stands out for its variety of soils, a unique climate, and a great diversity of grape varieties, with many native varieties that have adapted perfectly to the Alpine territory.

Short story

Viticulture in Switzerland has ancient origins, dating back to theRoman times, when Roman colonists introduced the cultivation of grapevines. However, viticulture developed significantly from the Middle Ages with the diffusion of wine into religious and social life. Monks, in particular, played a central role in the spread of viticulture by improving agricultural techniques and encouraging the growth of vines in mountainous regions. Over the centuries, Swiss viticulture has continued to evolve, although wine production has always been limited due to the challenges of the soil and climate. In the 20th century, Swiss viticulture experienced a period of growth, thanks in part to a greater focus on wine quality and the introduction of modern winemaking practices. In recent decades, Switzerland has acquired a growing reputation for the quality of its wines, although the majority of production is still consumed locally, making Switzerland one of the largest wine consumers per capita in the world.

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List of Exhibitors 2025