Wine and wine producers

With one thousand hectares of vineyards, and thanks to its position on the southern side of the Alps, Ticino is a special case among the winegrowing regions of Switzerland.

For more than a hundred years, Merlot has been the most widely cultivated grape variety. The resulting wines are of excellent quality, and have won prizes and plaudits at international competitions and in guidebooks. Most of the Merlot produced is red, with barrel-matured wines often attaining a high quality. The whites are also excellent – whether barrel-matured or not – as are the new sparkling wines.

In recent years, Ticino winemakers have also experimented successfully with a variety of grape blends, and the resulting wines are well worth trying. Tasting a glass of good wine direct at the cellar door or at one of the numerous winemaking festivals is a popular – yet refined – pleasure in Ticino. Local Merlot also goes particularly well with typical products from the region, such as cheese from the alpine pastures and traditional salami.