6th Oct, 2025, Alpine Property Search
With a history dating back to Roman times, Switzerland produces distinctive wines that reflect its diverse landscapes with a plethora of terroirs and microclimates, combined with a rich cultural heritage. Mother Nature has dictated a palette of wines that are as deep, rich and colourful as the variety of grapes that are on offer in this stunning landscape, which has around 15,000 hectares of vines. Switzerland is a land of extremes, so wine growers have to take advantages of any terroir that can support the growth of vines, which in turn produces a vineyard landscape that enhances the beauty and charm of this diverse country. Terraced vineyards line the shores of Lake Geneva and curl around the mountains to line the steep sided Rhône Valley, flanking castles and châteaux, golf courses and bisse walks and continuing in this fashion across 6 wine regions of Switzerland.
International varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Merlot thrive in Switzerland but it also cherishes native grapes. Chasselas is a the countries flagship white wine due to its delicate, mineral driven taste. In the red grape variety, Cornalin and Humagne Rouge offer bold and earthy flavours that are impossible to mimic outside the country. Swiss wines often stand out for their purity, freshness and balance, a reflection of high-altitude vineyards and meticulous winemaking.
However, only about 1–2% of Swiss wine is exported. The Swiss are patriotic about their wine and proud of their rich heritage and the remaining percentage is enjoyed domestically. This is a testament to its popularity and support at home combined with limited production, generally small vineyard sizes and its high quality which means that Swiss wine remains a luxury experience for travellers and true connoisseurs.
Valais is one of the sunniest spots in Switzerland, enjoying over 2,000 days of sunshine a year due to the protection given from the mountain ranges along the Rhône Valley. It enjoys Mediterranean like Summers, snowy Winters, blossoming Springs and wonderful Autumn colours, indeed some areas enjoy around 8 hours of sunshine even in the cold winter months making it not only one of the most beautiful areas of Switzerland attracting myriad tourists all year, but also ideal for growing wine. Vines need at least 6 hours a day of sunshine for optimal output of grapes, any less than this then the chances of the crop reducing are enhanced. This sun sure area of Switzerland produces nearly 1/3rd of the countries wines, which are mainly kept for local consumption.
Based in Sierre in the canton of Valais, Domaines Rouvinez has expanded over 60 years and 3 generations to become one of the largest vineyard owners in the region. Grounded in family ethos, you can always expect a warm welcome when you visit their cave, which sits on a beautiful hilltop, sandwiched between the Rhône and the Lac de Géronde. All of the combined family wine estates cover around 135 hectares and are dotted around Valais, between Leuk and Martigny and are listed below:
You are strongly advised to book a space on a Rouvinez wine tasting, which will include an education about the various terroirs and their challenges, a visit to the famous Géronde tunnel which houses their barrels and of course you will conclude with a generous wine tasting of their finest wines!
In terms of what to expect from the quality of their wine, it is of course superb! This is a house that has multitudes of awards for its wines, which are listed below:
Founded in 1947, it became devoted to the production of fine Swiss wine, particularly Valais specialities such as Arvine and Cornalin. The Tourmentin barrel aged blends, burst into the market in the 1980's and it became the first Valais blend to incorporate the canton's great specialities of Cornalin, Humagne Rouge and Syrah. Tourmentin remains to this day, the best selling wine in the Rouvinz estate. Their latest wine to be released was in 2019, which weaves a story around the Valais black nosed sheep which graze in the organic vineyards that the family own, is called Nez Noir and is the families first, purely organic red blend.
Always striving to improve, diversify and look to the future, the family have also tried its' hand, rather successfully of course, at pale ale and produces a beer called L'Echappé, which is brewed in true "Belgian style" in Martigny. This unique Swiss beer has already been recognised at the World Beer Awards and won the title of Swiss Champion in the Belgian Pale Ale category. In addition it was also awarded the prize for the best Swiss design.
Charles Bonvin 1858 holds the impressive title of The Oldest Wine House in Valais. These wines are produced on a terroire that is considered to be the best of the slopes in Central Valais. The wines are marketed under the estate names of Brûlefer, Clos du Château, Terra Cotta, Château Conthey, Plan Loggier, Mont Fleuri. A large range of grape varieties produce a large spectrum of wines including Petite Arvine, Amigne or Humagne and Cornalin, as well as some world-renowned grape varieties which perfectly acclimatized to the Rhône Valley, such as Marsanne blanche or Syrah.
Caves Orsat is slightly different to the other vineyards under the Domaines Rouvinez umbrella, as it is based on a co-operative model which is made up of around 1,100 suppliers who are all located between Salquenen and Martigny. The Orsat wine range gives pride of place to the indigenous Valais specialities of Arvine, Cornalin and Humagne Rouge. The Fendant 13 Etoiles and Dôle Romane have been established for around a century and in addition, it has expanded with the introduction of the Primus Classicus wines.
Located on the sun worshipping slopes above Sierre, this is another family owned business with such longevity that some of the vines are over 50 years old. In Granges, which is to the West of Sierre there are two outstanding estates. Firstly Mangold, which has the perfect conditions for Cornalin to grow in healthy splendour and secondly Pissiour, where Petite Arvine enjoys an exceptional terroir. In St-Léonard, on the Orgéval estate, Humagne Rouge is the thriving crop and in Venthône, on the Darnona estate, there is a fabulous Pinot Noir. Finally, in the Maision Rouge estate, Petite Arvine has earned a prestigious reputation.
Another family run vineyard based around the beautiful town of Sion. Steeped in passion, heritage and tradition, it offers a fine range of wines, each expressing the terroir and character with over 40 vintages. The Lady of Zion, a fizzy Fendant, is their flagship aperatif wine which was created by the first female oenologist in Switzerland, the wife of one of the brothers, Hanny Favre. Their other ranges include: the Favi range, a collection of blended wines; the Hurlevent range, which is offers over 20 wines including a pinot noir; Collection F which is oak barrel aged and are a selection of 8 wines including Fendant, Petite Arvine, Pinot Noir, Cornalin, Humagne Rouge, Syrah, Merlot and Douceur Rouge; the Salquenen range which is grown in an area which is perfect for pinot noir; the Grand Cru City of Sion which offers a Syrah under this name; and finally the Vin Cœur range, which offers a Fendant, Pinot Noir, Petite Arvine or Cornalin.
This is a 4 generational domaine which started in 1896 and is based in Vétroz in Valais. The passion that this family has for wine is expressed through the quality of the wine production from their estate, which is of course influenced by the terroir, but is also influenced by the passion and care that the family put into the production. The Domaine has numerous international awards with over 30 wines rated at over 90 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Over the last 25 years the family has striven to exclude the use of synthetic products on the 35 hectares that it owns and have managed to remove all use of pesticides and other treatments. Today, it can proudly admit to being one of the largest winemaking domaines in Switzerland to be certified as BIOSUISSE.
The domaine does of course offer wine tasting packages, which must be booked in advance and take place in the warm and convivial setting within the house. They offer 3 different types of wine tasting which can suit all pockets with prices starting from CHF 25. The majestic 200 year old cellar is now dedicated to warmly welcoming visitors and wine tasting and you will find raclette, fondues and Valaisan platters on offer to accompany the fine wines here. They also offer a rather special tour of a secluded Alpine vineyard which is 650-800m above sea level in the Val d'Hérens. A wonderful and unique experience where you will be wined and dined by people that are passionate about their subject.
The wines of this domaine are varied and extensive so a list is probably the best way of looking at all that's on offer. Please visit their webite for full details.
Cayas, Humagne Rouge, Baroq, Gally, Cornelin, Syrah, Earth Red, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Rebbio, Dôle Balavaud, Vuege, Rives, Sassi-Cayas, Louis Martin, Gamay and Dôle du Valais.
Petite Arvine, Amigne to Vétroz, Johannisberg, Fendant, Sea White, Heida and Chardonnay.
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Rose des Vientes and CÔTO, White Dôle of Valais.
Founded in 1979, the Domaine Gregor Kuonen Caveau de Salquenen has establised itself already as a very established and well regarded winery in Valais. With over 300 sunshine days, the South facing slopes of Salgesch offer ideal soil conditions for growing our award winning wines of which we have over 60 varieties, which have been cultivated with great passion, patience and years of experience. The family owns over 30 hectares, most of which are located in the immediate vicinity of Salgesch and you are invited to enjoy events in the family tasting room of the winery, where you will enjoy an immersive wine tasting experience tasting local tapas as well as a variety of the domaine wines. But be careful as they sell out quickly, often months in advance!
Domaine Gregor Kuonen have been awarded a number of prestigious wine awards, far too many to list but was awarded most recently - The best Pinot Gris in the World in 2025 with the MALVOISIE Vin doux Barrique 2023 vintage.
There are an extensive number of wines offered from this domaine of which the list below will give you a broad outline. Please visit their webite for full details.
Gamay, Dôle Gregor Kuonen, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Humagne Rouge, Cornalin, Diolinoir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamaret, Carminoir, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Divico and Terre Vivante.
Fendant, Coteaux de Sierre, Johannisberg, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne Blanche, Blanc de Noir, Dôle Blanche, Nuit de Folie, Heida, Humagne Blanche, Pinot Blanc and Arkadis.
Tasting Swiss wine is the only way to really discover if you enjoy it so what are you waiting for? There are a number of wineries to choose from and they will all be happy to offer you a tasting menu along with local specialities of gourmet food to accompany them. No trip to Switzerland is complete without finding out why the Swiss keep it all for themselves...
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