Swiss red wine cuvées are often atypical for our wine regions: Strong in aroma, full-bodied in taste and more or less characterized by barrel ageing, they are reminiscent of southern provenances. This makes them the perfect bridge wines for people who are just discovering Swiss wine for themselves.
At In international comparison, Swiss wine is little regulated. On the one hand, this is challenging for orientation, but on the other hand, it is a blessing for wine diversity. The category of blends or cuvées, i.e. wines made from several varieties, is more diverse in Switzerland than in almost any other wine nation. This was also demonstrated by the Falstaff Red Wine Blends Trophy 2024. Around 60 wines from all over the country were submitted - from quaffable, light berry wines to medium-weight cuvées with Piwi varieties and classic Bordeaux blends with barrel ageing, there was something for every taste. And it was precisely the latter category that impressed the tasters.
Unsurprisingly, it is red wine blends from Ticino in particular that know how to shine in the field of Swiss blends based on the Bordelais model. First place went to the Riva del Tasso 2021 from Cantina Pelossi, a wine made from 50 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Franc and 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. A wine that is already inspiring, but will continue to grow with a few years of ageing.
The second and third places were also taken by producers from Ticino, who should be well known: In second place this year was the Estro 2021 from the Gialdi winery consisting of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and some Petit Verdot and third place in the Vinattieri 811 2021 made from 80 percent Merlot and ten percent each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Both are wines that one would clearly locate blind in Bordeaux - or in regions that traditionally work with similar red wine blends. The biggest surprise among the winners of the Trophy was the Ottiger winery from Lucerne. With its Le Rouge 2022, it finished in second place together with Gialdi. The tasters attested to the wine's "Bordeauxesque" characteristics with present dark fruit as well as coffee and spicy notes from ageing in wooden barrels. Incidentally, the wine is based on the Gamaret, Merlot and Pinot Noir varieties - hard to guess, as is its origin from Lake Lucerne.
Traditional Swiss red wine cuvée
The most important Swiss red wine variety, Pinot Noir, is mostly vinified as a single varietal worldwide - as is the case in the Switzerland. With the specialty dôle, however, there are also a traditional red wine blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, Pinot is also often blended with the Swiss Gamay varieties Gamaret or Garanoir.
The Bordeaux blend
The grape composition of the French flagship region of Bordeaux conquered the wine world many years ago. The blend of varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot is the basis for the legendary Supertuscans.
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