Yesterday I returned from a week of daunting work in New York with book designer/illustrator and artist Mary Tiegreen; we finished my book on Swiss wines, due out mid-August. This afternoon I’m picking up the first proofs from the printer.

I’m so pleased – it is absolutely beautiful! A small team of proofreaders worked with us to get the final version just right, and they were a treat to work with (thank you Barbara Ender Jones, Judy Zehentner, and Evelyn and David Ralph). Details under wraps until August.

So what does a wine writer drink to celebrate her new book? Tough decision, since I have a fine collection of beautiful Swiss wines in my cellar! I wanted to sit on the veranda at our chalet in Valais and simply soak up the mountains, with a nice glass of local red in hand.

I opted for the Rouvinez winery’s Chateau Lichten red blend 2007, which has been cooling its heels in my cellar for five years.  I wasn’t disappointed

The winery suggests it is at its best in 3-6 years, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that it’s perfect at age 7: cherries and wild berries give a wonderfully fruity nose typical of native grapes Cornalin and Humagne Rouge. The wine is still young thanks to its good acidity. The tannins are very smooth and well integrated.

The wine was stoppered with a Vinatura cork, nice to see, as it reminded me that Rouvinez has been certified for integrated production since 1993, more than 20 years, well before the bulk of Swiss wineries moved to this more sustainable approach to growing grapes and making wine.

Alcohol, 12.5%, made in stainless steel tanks. Grape varieties: Cornalin, Humagne Rouge, Syrah.

Grapes are from Loèche, Chateau Lichten, vines on the hillside that leads up to Loèche-les-bains (Leukebad in German).