BERN, SWITZERLAND – The winners of the annual Swiss wine awards for 2016 were named Wednesday evening 26 October in Bern as part of the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse gala evening that attracts some 400 people from the Swiss wine world. (photos tomorrow, Thursday, of some of the winners)
Part of the press release from the Vinea Association follows; at the end you will find listed the first, second and third-place medal winners in all categories, as well as the three other finalists. A special report on the winners and the results from the GPVS 2016 will be published by Vinum magazine in both its German- and French-language editions.
Notable: while wineries from canton Valais had a particularly good year, 2015 was not as kind to producers from the second-largest region, Vaud, and their showing was considerably weaker than normal. This year’s winners includes several new names, a sign of healthy progress.
Regence Balavaud in Vétroz as the new Swiss Winery of the Year is exciting, for it is a relatively young winery with a young oenologist whose precision work is paying off.
Gala evening for the 10th annual Grand Prix du Vin Suisse
The winners of the best of Swiss wines were honoured during a gala event that took place in Bern, attended by the key actors in the Swiss wine world. The 73 finalist wines came from throughout the country; 36 of them were awarded first, second or third place prizes. Wines from canton Valais did particularly well this year, winning half of the competition’s 12 categories. The Swiss Winery of the Year 2016 is Regence Balavaud in Vétroz (Valais) and the title Decade Winery 2007-2016 has again gone to Diego Mathier in Salquenen (Valais). The BIO prize for organic wine was awarded to Reynald Parmelin in Begnins (Valais). The two Vinissimo prizes for white and red wines went to, respectively, Cave Corbassière in Saillon, Valais and Lampert’s Weingut Heidelberg in Maienfeld (Graubünden).
The 10th annual Grand Prix du Vin Suisse, organized by the Vinea Association and wine magazine Vinum, brought together in Sierre some 170 wine tasters. After 6 days of tasting 2,864 wines entered by 560 producers, 73 finalist wines were named for the Swiss wine gala. For the second consecutive year, an international jury of 10 tasted the finalist wines and selected the 3 best wines in each category. Paolo Basso, World’s Best Sommelier (2013) and one of the judges for the re-tasting, noted: “qualitative improvements in Chasselas, as well as rosé wines, and good success with blends of reds and whites, Merlots and sweet wines. With wines at this level, Switzerland is well positioned to fight for a place on the world’s wine map.”
Top awards go to wines from throughout Switzerland
Valais, Switzerland’s largest wine region, was represented 19 times among the winners of the three first places for each category. It was followed by German-speaking Switzerland (7) – wines from Graubünden, Zurich, Thurgau and Aargau – then Ticino (5), Neuchatel-Three Lakes (3) and Vaud (2).
Valais also stood out with its six category winners: Chasselas, other white single grape varieties, white blends, Gamay, other red single grape varieties and wines with residual sugar. Ticino not surprisingly won the Merlot category. Graubünden was awarded top prizes for Pinot Noir and red blends. The best rosé wine was from Zurich and Neuchatel won the sparkling wine category while Thurgau won the prize for best Müller-Thurgau.
Special prizes
Five special prizes were also given out during this special evening:
Prix BIO suisse, to Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes Begnins BIO 2015, la Côte AOC, Domaine de la Capitaine, Begnins, Vaud.
Prix Vinissimo, “favourite white wine”: Petite Arvine Saillon Grand Cru 2015, Cave Corbassière, Saillon, Valais
Prix Vinissimo, “favourite red wine”: Lampert’s Cuvée Rouge 2013, Lampert’s Weingut Heidelberg, Maienfeld, Graubünden
Swiss Winery of the Year 2016: Cave Régence Balavaud in Vétroz, Valais. This much sought-after title is attributed to the winery that best meets several criteria that include the number of medals which have won awards, whether finalists or top prize winners, in relation to the number of wines entered.
And the 10th Grand Prix du Vin Suisse prize Decade 2007-2016 Swiss Winery:
It returns to Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG, Salquenen, Valais. Diego Mathier, who twice earlier won the title of Swiss Winery of the Year: his wines have won first, second or third place awards 16 times in the past 10 competitions.
SPECIAL PRIZES
Swiss Winery of the Year: Cave Régence, Balavaud Vétroz, Valais
VINISSIMO favourite WHITE wine
Petite Arvine Saillon Grand Cru 2015, AOC Valai, Cave Corbassière – 1913 Saillon (VS)
VINISSIMO favourite RED wine
Lamperts Cuvée Rouge 2013, AOC Graubünden, Lampert’s Weingut Heidelberg – 7304 Maienfeld (GR)
PRIX BIO (organic)
Pinot Noir Begnins BIO 2015, La Côte AOC, Domaine la Capitaine (Biodynamic) – 1268 Begnins (VD)
Swiss Winery Decade 2007-2016
Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG – 3970 Salgesch (VS)
CHASSELAS
1st Fendant Classique 2015, AOC Valais, Domaine des Muses – 3960 Sierre (VS)
2nd Fendant Rêverie 2015, AOC Valais, Cave Régence-Balavaud – 1963 Vétroz (VS)
3rd La Guérite Fendant 2015, AOC Valais, Maurice Gay SA – 1955 Chamoson (VS)
Finalists
Chasselas de Valmont 2015, La Côte AOC, Les Trois Terres – 1110 Morges (VD)
Domaine Chamvalon Gilly 2015, La Côte AOC, Domaine Chamvalon – 1182 Gilly (VD)
Blanc Grand Cru Yvorne 2015, Chablais AOC, Château Maison Blanche – 1853 Yvorne (VD
MÜLLER-THURGAU
1st Amliker Müller Thurgau 2015, AOC Thurgau, Zahnd erlesene Weine – 8514 Amlikon-Bissegg (TG)
2nd Hüttwiler Renaissance 2015, AOC Thurgau, Wägeli Weinbau – 8524 Buch (TG)
3rd Riesling-Sylvaner Würenlingen 2015, AOC Aargau, Weingut zum Sternen – 5303 Würenlingen (AG)
Finalists
Riesling-Silvaner 2015, AOC Bern, Weingut Hämmerli –3232 Ins (BE)
Graf von Spiegelberg, AOC Schaffhausen, Hallauer Riesling-Silvaner 2015, Rimuss und Weinkellerei Rahm AG – 8215 Hallau (SH)
Winterthur Goldenberg, AOC Zürich, Riesling-Silvaner 2015, VOLG Weinkellereien AG- 8401 Winterthur (ZH)
OTHER WHITE SINGLE GRAPE WINES
1st, Petite Arvine Saillon Grand Cru 2015, AOC Valais, Cave Corbassière – 1913 Saillon (VS)
2nd Johannisberg 2015, AOC Valais, Cave Saint Philippe – 3970 Salgesch (VS)
3rd Amigne de Vétroz Grand Cru, 1 bee 2015, AOC Valais, Cave des Deux Rives – 1996 Brignon (Nendaz) (VS)
OTHER WHITE SINGLE GRAPE WINES
Finalists
Marsanne Blanche La Courtisane 2014, AOC Valais, Domaine du Mont d’Or SA – 1951 Sion (VS)
Les Cigalines, AOC Valais, Chenin Blanc de Chamoson 2015, Cave La Siseranche – 1955 Chamoson (VS)
Marsanne Blanche Subtile 2015, AOC Valais, Cave Le Tambourin Sàrl – 3960 Corin (VS)
WHITE BLENDS
1st Sentes Blanches Coteaux de Sierre 2014, AOC Valais, Cave Les Sentes – 3960 Sierre (VS)
2nd Cuvée 1858 blanche 2014, AOC Valais, Charles Bonvin SA – 1950 Sion (VS)
3rd Cuvée Madame Rosmarie Mathier 2015, AOC Valais, Adrian & Diego Mathier, Nouveau Salquenen AG 3970 Salgesch (VS)
Finalists
Domaine du Chapitre, AOC Valais, Crus des Domaines 2014, Provins Valais – 1951 Sion (VS)
Nuance Blanche 2014, AOC Valais, Daniel Magliocco & Fils – 1955 St-Pierre-de-Clages (VS)
Muscat Sec 2015, AOC Luzern, Weinbau Mariazell – 6210 Sursee (LU)
ROSÉ AND BLANCS DE NOIRS WINES
1st, Rosé 2015, AOC Zürich, Weingut Gehring – 8427 Freienstein (ZH)
2nd, Les Chaumes Oeil-de-Perdrix 2015, Vaud AOC, Uvavins – Cave de la Côte – 1131 Tolochenaz (VD)
3rd Perles du Valais Dôle Blanche 2015, AOC Valais, Maison Gilliard – 1950 Sion (VS)
Finalists
Château Rosé 2015, Genève AOC, Domaine Château du Crest, J. Meyer & Cie – 1254 Jussy (GE)
Oeil-de-Perdrix Primus Classicus 2015, AOC Valais, Caves Orsat SA – 1920 Martigny (VS)
Oeil-de-Perdrix 2015, Le Landeron AOC, Robert Andrey – Schafis – 2514 Ligerz (BE)
PINOT NOIR
1st
Pinot Noir URIS, Davaz 2014 AOC Graubünden
Weingut Davaz – 7306 Fläsch (GR)
2nd
Domaine de Chantemerle 2015 La Côte AOC
Domaine Chantemerle – 1180 Tartegnin (VD)
3rd
Pinot Noir 2013 AOC Zürich
Strickhof Wülflinger Trotte –
8408 Winterthur (ZH))
Finalists
Pinot Noir Inner Hag Trimmis 2014 AOC Graubünden
Däppen-Fischer – 7203 Trimmis (GR)
Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes Begnins BIO 2015 La Côte AOC
Domaine la Capitaine (Biodynamique) –
1268 Begnins (VD)
Schinznacher Pinot Noir 2015 AOC Aargau
Weinbaugenossenschaft Schinznach –
5107 Schinznach Dorf (AG)
GAMAY
1st
Gamay Vieilles Vignes 2015 AOC Valais
Cave David Rossier – 1912 Leytron (VS)
2nd
Gamay Domaine St-Théodule AOC Valais
Martigny 2015 Cave Gérald Besse – 1921 Martigny-Croix (VS)
3rd
Vespae Gamay de Bovernier 2015 AOC Valais
Domaine Jean-René Germanier–
1963 Vétroz (VS)
Finalists
Gamay La Vigne Blanche 2015 Genève AOC
Domaine de la Vigne Blanche –
1223 Cologny (GE)
Villeneuve La Violette 2014 Chablais AOC
Société Coopérative Viticole Villeneuve –
1844 Villeneuve (VD)
Gamay 2015 AOC Valais
Cave Gilbert Devayes – 1912 Leytron (VS)
MERLOT
1st
Il 2013 Ticino DOC
Vini Rovio Gianfranco Chiesa – 6821 Rovio (TI)
2nd
Tenuta Montalbano Riserva 2013 Ticino DOC
Cantina Sociale Mendrisio – 6850 Mendrisio (TI)
3rd
Carato Riserva 2012 Ticino DOC
Vini e Distillati Angelo Delea SA –
6616 Losone (TI)
MERLOT
Finalists
Merlot de Peissy 2014 Genève AOC
Cave Les Crêtets– 1242 Satigny (GE)
Merlot 2015 AOC Valais
Kellerei Leukersonne – 3952 Susten (VS)
Moncucchetto Riserva 2013 Ticino DOC
Fattoria Moncucchetto Sagl – 6900 Lugano (TI)
OTHER RED SINGLE GRAPE WINES
1st
Syrah Grandmaître Barrique 2014 AOC Valais
Gregor Kuonen, Caveau de Salquenen –
3970 Salgesch (VS)
2nd
Syrah Les Empereurs Coup de Coeur 2013 AOC Valais
Cave La Romaine – 3978 Flanthey (VS)
3rd
Cornalin Les Coteaux de Sierre 2015 AOC Valais
Cave des Champs – 3972 Miège (VS)
Finalists
Les Cigalines Diolinoir de Chamoson 2015 AOC Valais
Cave La Siseranche – 1955 Chamoson (VS)
Diolinoir 2015 AOC Valais
Cave de St-Romain – 1966 Ayent (VS)
Bondola 2015 Ticino DOC
Terreni alla Maggia SA – 6612 Ascona (TI)
RED BLENDS
1st
Lamperts Cuvée Rouge 2013 AOC Graubünden
Lampert’s Weingut Heidelberg –
7304 Maienfeld (GR)
2nd
Sottobosco 2013 Ticino DOC
Agriloro SA – 6852 Genestrerio (TI)
3rd
Synthesis 2011 Ticino DOC
Cantina Cristini e Figli – 6528 Camorino (TI)
Finalists
Gamaret-Garanoir 2015 La Côte AOC
Domaine du Feuillerage – 1166 Perroy (VD)
Le Terrail 2011 AOC Valais
Cave du Chevalier Bayard SA – 3953 Varen (VS)
Binôme 2014 Vins de Pays
Zweifel & Co. AG – 8049 Zürich (ZH)
WHITE, ROSÉ AND RED WINES WITH RESIDUAL SUGAR, STARTING AT 8 G/L
1st
Marsanne Blanche 2012 AOC Valais
Cave des Bernunes – 3960 Sierre (VS)
2nd
Barrique liquoreuse AOC Valais
Clos de Châteauneuf 2014 Philippe Varone Vins SA – 1950 Sion (VS)
3rd
Malvoisie flétrie Barrique AOC Valais
Grandmaître 2014 Gregor Kuonen, Caveau de Salquenen –
3970 Salgesch (VS)
Finalists
Gewürztraminer 2015 La Côte AOC
Domaine des Sieurs – 1184 Luins (VD)
Petite Arvine Hurlevent 2015 AOC Valais
Les Fils de Charles Favre – 1950 Sion (VS)
Chevaliers d’Or 2014 AOC Valais
Vins des Chevaliers – 3970 Salgesch (VS)
SPARKLING WINE
1st
Cuvée Bel Héritage 2011 Vin de Pays
Mauler et Cie SA – 2112 Môtiers (NE)
2nd
Blanc de Noir (non-vintage) Cressier AOC
Räblus Weinbau – 2505 Biel-Vingelz (BE))
3rd
Louis Edouard Mauler 2010 AOC Neuchâtel
Mauler et Cie SA – 2112 Môtiers (NE)
Finalists
Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris Méthode La Côte AOC
Traditionnelle Château Rochefort 2014 Ville de Lausanne, Service des parcs et domaines 1000 Lausanne (VD)
Roses des Sens 2014 Genève AOC
Domaine Les Faunes –
1283 Dardagny (GE)
Brut Prestige 2014 AOC Valais
Renaissance Vins SA – 1906 Charrat (VS)
Fortunatus 2014 AOC Thurgau
Kartause Ittingen – 8532 Warth (TG)
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