When it comes to wine and food, a name is not just a name
Switzerland has had AOCs for a while now, but on 14 January 2010, the Swiss federal agriculture office, OFAG, published an official bulletin containing a list of approximately 800 appellations of origin and geographical indications, roughly the equivalent of the French Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC). These were voted in in the context of a reciprocal agreement with the EU, and are to be protected and respected throughout the EU.
This effort should help to improve the reputation of Swiss products outside Switzerland. As of 15 March 2010, any person or company can stamp agricultural products produced in the defined geographic locations with the geographic indications and appellations defined in this list with an AOC type seal.
The project is still being finalized, so there may be even more good news on the way.
What’s an AOC?
The concept of AOC, as it is most often referred to, originated in France in the 15th century, but most modern AOCs date from the early 20th century, when the French government passed a law protecting the rigorously defined geographic origin of wines. AOCs were later extended to other products, such as cheese, and other definitions were linked to the geographical indications, such as grape varieties, climate, aging process, methods of production, soil characteristics, etc.
In France, the French national institute for appellations of origin, the INAO, strictly monitors and ensures that the regulations are adhered to. It is illegal to make and label a product with an AOC label if it does not comply with all of the criteria.
A similar system exists in Italy, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or DOC.
Why is it good for Switzerland to have AOCs?
The aim of such systems is to guarantee quality and consistency of products, and it helps customers have a clearer idea of exactly what product they are buying. It should add prestige to many of Switzerland’s often neglected products.
Switzerland has been late in generalizing the process, but started waking up in recent years. In 2003, they managed to get an AOC for Geneva spiny cardoons, in 2004 for Valais pure rye bread, and in 2007 for Fribourg Botzi pears. The list also includes sausages, dried meats and even polenta, even though wines and cheeses are the main emphasis.
OPAGE, the official association for promoting agricultural products in canton Geneva, gives a fairly comprehensive list of Geneva products that have received AOC status over the last year, and this will most surely be updated once the project has been completed.
In Vaud, AOCs include boutefas sausages and Gruyère, Etivaz and Vacherin Mont-d’Or Switzerland cheeses.
You can find more detailed information about Swiss AOC (and other) wines in previous posts:
Glad to have this information. We used to enjoy Swiss wines at Windows which had a wonderful wine cellar. Overlooking Manhattan with the piano playing…Our must-go drinks place for anyone who visited us here before 2001, we have not quite recovered from the loss of that restaurant and view.Perhaps those memories will never be replaced with something comparable.
Some of my fave raves for food in Firenze..originally I published it in Marbella today about two years ago
I formaggi di Giulia,Via V.Emmanuele II.fantastic cheeses,pecario,Pasubio,Caporetto,Burrata,and terrific cold meats and salami.
Procacci,Via Tornabuoni 64/r; a luxury delicatessan,you can eat the most delicious sandwiches at the bar with a glass of white wine..
Pegna,Via dello Studio, 26/r,nice old fashioned style,stock everything,like really,supermarket style if you like..
Orizi, Via del Parione 19/r,it is a grocery but does lovely meals at lunch time
Tassini, Via Borgo Santissimi Apostoli, 24/Fabulous delicatessen.
Friggatoria Luisa,Via S.Antonino 50/r. one of the few remaining “deep fry”shops
Caseificio Salicella
Via Madonna della Quercia, 23/b. Buffalo mozzarella (the very best) and a wide range of cheeses and top quality produce from Lucca And Campania.particularly Lucchese olive oil.
Ciatti
Via Panicale, 19/r.
There are wonderful marble basins for the stockfish to soak in, while the dried fillets hang from the ceiling. Anchovies, herring, rice and beans are all available here. The shop opened in the early years of the 20th.century and offers an amazing variety of goods.
Giuliano
Via dei Neri 5/r.full of tempting delicacies.
Wine and wine bars
In 1717 Cosmio III, who ruled for 50 years, really destroying his family he lived so long, ordained the length, breadth and useage of the word Chianti,which prevails to this day.
CANTINETTA ANTINORI, A PRINCELY HOUSE EVEN BEFORE THE MEDICI ,SERVE FOOD AND THEY HAVE A SPLENDID WINE BAR IN THEIR PALAZZO ANTINORI,WHICH IS A MUST,VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO OWING TO ITS POPULARITY,BUT TRY. FROM THEIR ESTATES.
Cantinetta dei Verrazzano
Via de’ Tavolini, 20/r.
Phone: 055.268.590
Closed Sunday and public holidays
The oil, wines and spirits all come from the estate and castle of Verrazzano near Greve in Chianti. As well as savouring the wines and grappa and enjoying an excellent coffee, you can also have a bite to eat. The warm schiacciata sandwiches and the unusual little snacks are all most tempting.
Antica Mescita
Via San Niccolò, 60/r.
Phone: 055.234.283.6
Closed Sunday
Typical Florentine food served in a warm and friendly setting. Booking is necessary in the evenings. After supper it stays open as a bar.
Zanobini
Via Sant’Antonino, 47/r.
Phone: 055.239.685.0
Closed Sunday and Wednesday
The street this mescita is in used to be called Cella di Ciardo after the vast cellar (in Latin cella) which Ciardo the wine dealer used to have here. The original porticoed shop has now disappeared. The present proprietors have been selling wine and oil from their farm ‘Le Lame’ here since 1944. The traditions of good wine and good crack, always good humoured, create the thoroughly Florentine atmosphere.Not recommended if you don’t speak Italian.
Fiaschetteria Vecchio Casentino
Via de’ Neri, 17/r.
Phone: 055.217.411
Closed Monday
Strictly Tuscan food: ribollita (bread soup), salsiccia and beans, excellent cold sliced meats. You can have a quick snack or enjoy a glass of wine and appetizer at the bar.
Bonatti
Via Gioberti, 66/r.
Phone: 055.660.050
One of the best stocked wine shops in the city where the friendly owners are always at hand with good advice.
Enoteca bar Fuori Porta
Via del Monte alle Croci, 10/r.
Phone: 055.234.248.3
Closed Saturday and Sunday
An excellent and wide range of Italian and foreign wines and spirits. At lunchtime you can enjoy good home cooking served at table for as little as L. 20,000. In the evening only snacks are available – tasty cold meats, hams, salami and pickles. Next door, the well stocked shop sells wines and liqueurs.
Casa del Vino
Via dell’Ariento, 16/r.
Closed Sunday
This bar opened in the 19th century and still has the original wood furnishings. The good atmosphere is due to the interesting mix of locals and habitués who, however, all have the same interest in wine and good chat. A wide range of wines, spirits, oil, snacks and sandwiches.
Vini del Chianti “I Fratellini”
Via de’ Cimatori, 38/r.
Closed Sunday
The bar opened in 1875 and has always been run by two brothers: the name means ‘younger brothers’. There is no room to sit as the little bar has actually been set up in the doorway to the cellar. Only Tuscan wines are served accompanied, if you wish, by crostini, slices of ham, salami and local specialities.
Antico Noè
Volta di San Piero, 6/r.
Sometimes closed on Sunday
Wash a tasty antipasto down with a good glass of red Tuscan wine at the bar. They make wonderful sandwiches too, filled with typical Tuscan meats and ingredients such as cold meats and sausage (like the delicious briciolona), tripe, crostini with Tuscan paté, roast pork or veal, vegetables preserved in oil or vinegar.
Internazionale De Rham
Via Campofiore, 110.
Phone: 055.661.665
Slightly off the beaten track but worth a visit anyway. Specialists in wine exports.will ship for you,go on ask them.
Cafés aka heart attack alley
Caffelatte, Via degli Alfani, 39/r.
This bar,with a magnificent marble counter, has been selling milk and coffee since 1921. Have a seat and sip a delicious milky coffee with a piece of home-made cake.
Cosi
Borgo degli Albizzi, 12/r.
The cream cakes are a real treat at teatime.
Crociani
Piazza Dalmazia, 37/r.
Lot of delicious little cakes and lovely Sicilian cannoli
Dolci & Dolcezze
Piazza Beccaria, 9/r and Via del Corso, 41/r.
This was recommended to me,so cannot guarantee anything,but I’m told it’s good.
Donnini
Piazza della Repubblica, 15/r.
Wonderful patisserie.
Gaetano
Via Torre degli Agli, 2.
Always crowded but worth the effort!
Giorgio
Via Duccio da Boninsegna, 36.
Elegant bar, excellent cakes.
Gualtieri
Via Senese, 18/r.
Charmingly old-fashioned. Good traditional specialities.
Italiano
Via Condotta, 56/r.
Pause for a tea, coffee or drink, or eat upstairs at lunchtime
Minni
Via A. Giacomini, 16.
Their speciality is a little doughnuts (called bomboloni in Florence) served hot at five in the afternoon. A good selection of sweets and savouries is available all day.
Piansa
Borgo Pinti, 18/r e Viale Europa, 128.
These two comfortable bars were opened by a coffee specialist and importer – so great coffee as well as snacks.
Rivoire
Piazza della Signoria, 5/r. Opposite Palazzo Vecchio,and the great fountain by Amamanti,and the David copy.
Try their steaming cups of hot chocolate.and watch the world go by, a favourite with Texan heiresses, so lots of Gigolos,the rattle of gold chains..on the men, can quite put you off…
Calamai
Via dell’Agnolo, 113/r.
Attractive, slightly grand clientele
Caponeri
Via F. Valori, 4/r.
Excellent profiteroles and pastries.
Castaldini
Viale dei Mille, 47/r.
The millefeuilles are delicious, but try the other sweet treats too.
Robiglio
Via dei Servi, 112/r, Via Tosinghi, 11/r and Viale S. Lavagnini, 18/r.
The one in Servi is the best in my opinion,and not far from the Duomo,see it glisten in the rain
Delicious sweets and savouries. Try the savoury pastries filled with ham.
Scudieri
Piazza S. Giovanni, 19/r
The best savoury croissants.
Stefania
Via Marconi, 26/r.
Excellent patisserie.
Alcedo
Via A. Gramsci, 26 – Fiesole.
Good service, good quality.Take the bus from Piazza San Marco,after you’ve seen the David in the Academia,and the interiors of the Church and Monks cells of San Marco
Pizzerie
Pizzaiuolo
Via dei Macci 113/r.
Phone: 055.241.171
Closed Sunday
First-class pizzas. The owner is a genuine Neopolitan. You will need to book, as their pizza is so good they are always full up.
Spera
Via della Cernaia, 9/r.
Phone: 055.495.286
Closed Monday. Open only in the evening on Saturday and Sunday. Signor Spera was a first rate amateur boxer in the past, even reaching the world finals in the bantamweight category. When he decided to hang up the gloves, he started to prepare knock-out pizzas instead. There is a fixed price menu available at lunchtime too and it is well worth trying the seafood and vegetarian antipasti. They don’t accept bookings so you should get there early, especially in the evenings.
Firenze Nova
Via Benedetto Dei, 122.
Phone: 055.411.937
Closed Monday
As well as pizza you shouldn’t miss the house speciality – delicious fish.
Santa Lucia
Via del Ponte alle Mosse, 102/r.
Phone 055.353.255
Closed Wednesday
Good pizza served until late at night. .
La greppia
Lungarno Ferrucci, 4-8.(Lungarno means the Quays..)
Phone: 055.681.2341
Closed Monday
Open until two in the morning. You can eat your food while enjoying the wonderful view over the Arno.
Ciarán MacGonigal
Ireland
Thanks for the tips on restaurants in Florence. Florence is an easy weekend trip from Switzerland, so I’m sure many people will appreciate this exhaustive list.
Does this have any bearing on how animals are treated in Switzerland? I believe there are better standards in place in E.U. for this, but I’m not sure exactly what they cover.
I believe that is a very different issue, that would be covered by another type of labeling. I would suggest getting in touch with David Kong-Hug, who often comments on this site, and is a specialist on such matters in Switzerland.