RELATIONSHIPS
Swiss Appellations & winemaking: Federal classifications and canton regulations: Comparative perspectives
Read geography, grape resources, and production processes separately.
Federation
AOC・Vin de pays・Vin de table
Region
Check the individual conditions and harvest management
Vineyard
Varieties, Plots, and Records of Origin
This is a schematic diagram summarizing the main text. It does not represent production areas or quality rankings. Sources and reference materials
FIELD NOTE 01
Three categories under the Federation
The Federal Department of Agriculture classifies wine as AOC, Vin de Pays, and Vin de Table. Even when French terms appear, they should be interpreted according to the Swiss system. Both AOC and Vin de Pays can have traditional indications according to conditions.
FIELD NOTE 02
The role of the region
For specific production requirements and traditional names under AOC, state regulations are important. Vineyard registration includes information such as plot, municipality, grape variety, area, and permissible appellations. Even if the same name appears in different regions, the requirements are not necessarily uniform nationwide.
FIELD NOTE 03
From vineyard to pressing
Harvest management is implemented by the state and supervised by the federal government. The ability to trace the source of ingredients from harvest to pressing forms the basis of the system. Read the order of supplementary indications such as origin, variety, vintage, Grand Cru, etc., and refer back to the documentation of the region managing those terms.
Check the state's and specific appellation’s regulations. Federal classifications and individual supplementary indications cover different scopes.
PAUSE & REFLECT
Check your understanding.
Can you determine national standards just from the term 'Grand Cru'?
Read the explanation ＋
Check the state's and specific appellation’s regulations. Federal classifications and individual supplementary indications cover different scopes.
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Sources and reference materials
These are the reference materials for the main text. For details of production regulations, consult the current documents. For individual wine specifications, refer to materials for the relevant vintage.
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