The German-speaking Switzerland is the largest wine region in Switzerland, encompassing 17 cantons. With a vineyard area of around 2660 hectares, representing about 18% of the total cultivation area in Switzerland, German-speaking Switzerland ranks third among the country's wine regions. The region is characterized by an impressive variety of local climates, heavily influenced by lakes, rivers, warm foehn winds, and favorable slopes.
The largest wine-growing area in German-speaking Switzerland is Zurich with 613 hectares, followed by Schaffhausen and Thurgau, where the vines benefit from the mild influences of Lake Constance. In Graubünden, especially in the Bündner Herrschaft, expressive wines are produced on calcareous soils. Glarus, on the other hand, has the smallest vineyard area with only two hectares.
Nearly 3000 winegrowers cultivate the region's vineyards, with about 90% of them practicing viticulture as a secondary occupation. Annually, around 24 million bottles of wine are produced.
The region is dominated by the red grape variety Pinot Noir (Blauburgunder), which accounts for about 70% of the varietal inventory. Among the white wines, Completer, Räuschling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris are particularly noteworthy. International varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Müller-Thurgau have also established themselves in German-speaking Switzerland, delivering high-quality wines.
