Wine tasting: popular destinations in Switzerland
Wine tastings are sociable and train the palate. We'll tell you the best places to go.
Everything you need to know at a glance
Wine tastings in Switzerland allow you to refine your palate and learn to classify the aromas, acidity, and tannins of wine through direct comparison. Sommeliers guide you through cellars, production facilities, and tastings at renowned wineries in Lavaux, Valais, and along the Rhine, or on a wine hike in the Bündner Herrschaft region.
Wine tastings also take place regularly in cities such as Sion, Zurich, and Bern in wine shops, wine bars, and historic locations. The "open wine cellars" in spring are particularly worthwhile, when producers throughout Switzerland invite visitors to tastings and local specialties.
Wine tastings: Discover your preferences
A soft clink, a quick glance at the ruby red color, then the first aroma that rises to your nose: cherry, a hint of pepper, perhaps a touch of wood. At the table, people don't just drink, they compare, ask questions, and laugh a lot. You'll notice how much more wine can be than just "tastes good" or "doesn't taste good."
Wine tastings are a social experience. They train the senses, make aromas, acidity, and tannins tangible, and help refine your own taste. Quality becomes apparent when different wines are compared directly. Ideally, you will develop a feel for style, vintage, and value for money.
Switzerland offers a variety of excellent venues for such wine tastings under the guidance of experienced sommeliers and other wine experts, from modern tasting bars in the cities to wine taverns where you can taste wine among barrels and rows of vines.
Wine tastings at renowned wineries
Switzerland has numerous wine-growing regions that produce high-quality wines. Whether in the Geneva region, German-speaking Switzerland, the Three Lakes region, or the wine regions of Vaud, Valais, and Ticino, you will find vineyards where winegrowers pursue their passion with patience and love.
Many of these renowned wineries offer exquisite tastings. Here are a few recommended addresses:
- At the Cave Jacques et Aurélia Joly winery in the wine-growing village of Grandvaux in the canton of Vaud, above Lake Geneva in the Lavaux wine region, you can visit the wine cellar with the producer. In addition to tasting various wines, he will explain the operation and the wine production process.
- In the small Valais town of Siders, known as Sierre in French, the Colline de Daval winery is beautifully nestled among vineyards. There you can enjoy a tasting of five different wines. Afterwards, you can take a walk through the vineyard.
- At the Florin winery in Stein am Rhein in the canton of Schaffhausen, you can experience the interplay of wine and cheese in a guided tasting presented by the winemaker himself. The price includes three bottles of wine, which you can take home with you.
- On the "Graubünden Wine Hike," you will join a local guide on an easy hike in the Graubünden Herrschaft region. At a winery, you will taste up to seven wines, including an aperitif with cheese and dried meat from the surrounding Alps. You will also be introduced to the secrets of winemaking and sensory perception.
Wine tastings in Swiss cities
Tastings are not only available in the wine-growing regions themselves. Every major city in Switzerland hosts numerous wine tastings throughout the year, for example in stylish bars or rustic wine taverns:
- Sion, the capital of the Valais wine region, offers a wide selection. In the heart of the old town, the "Verre à pied" wine bar offers more than 150 local wines from 18 winemakers. You can either enjoy the wines on site or buy them at cellar prices.
- An equally appealing alternative is the Les Fils de Charles Favre winery. Its tasting room offers wine tastings of classics, such as gourmet combinations of wine and sushi, or individually designed tastings.
- In Zurich, you can always discover new wine specialties in select wine bars, whether from the nearby region or from faraway countries. A very popular meeting place, for example, is Armando's by Vergani in the heart of the city, a mixture of wine shop and wine bar. Wine tastings and tailor-made wine learning courses are offered there every week.
- Bern is also a great place for connoisseurs of fine wines. One of the most popular venues is the wine tasting in the vaulted cellar of the historic Kulm building on the Gurten. Depending on the growing region, you can taste up to eight wines while enjoying a magnificent view of the city.
Interesting fact: At the renowned Vergani wine shop, you can enjoy Italian wine culture at its finest. With your American Express Platinum Card, you will receive a credit note worth CHF 25 on your next wine purchase at either of the two Vergani locations in Zurich when you spend at least CHF 150.
Gold Card or Platinum Card? Which card will accompany you on your journey through Switzerland's wine regions?
Tip: the "open wine cellars"
In April, May, and June, winemakers from all over Switzerland open their doors and invite visitors to tastings. These events are an excellent opportunity to discover the wineries in a festive atmosphere and learn more about Swiss wine. Delicious local specialties are also served.
Switzerland as a wine destination: taste the diversity
Wine tastings in Switzerland combine conviviality with enjoyment and help you systematically discover your own taste preferences. You can sample delicious wines at renowned vineyards in Lavaux, Valais, the Bündner Herrschaft region, or in the heart of cities such as Sion, Zurich, and Bern.
You can book guided tastings where quality, style, and value for money become tangible in direct comparison. These are often accompanied by cellar tours, food pairings, and guided tours of the cellars or vineyards.
You should take your American Express credit card with you on all your wine tours. It offers numerous attractive benefits when traveling and in everyday life, such as comprehensive insurance benefits, dining benefits, and hotel perks.
Frequently asked questions and answers
The cost of wine tastings varies greatly: prices usually range between CHF 30 and CHF 70. Offers such as wine walks are more expensive, depending on the scope of the event.
A wine tasting is a social experience that trains your senses and helps you understand aromas, acidity, and tannins. You will also refine your personal taste in wine and get a feel for good value for money.
You can find good tastings at renowned wineries as well as in cities such as Sion, Zurich, and Bern, and at the "open wine cellars" in spring.
