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 10^th 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 10^th 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)

3^rd

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)