Geneva/Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The grape harvest of 2009 has wine producers in Switzerland smiling, even though grape picking begins in earnest in Valais, the early starter and the largest wine-producing canton, only this weekend. It has been an excellent year for growers, comparable to 2005, one of the best years on record, say growers: adequate rain at just the right times and generally dry conditions in most of the country’s grapegrowing regions, with the harvest size comparable to last year’s.

The weather forecast for the next week is promising, with mostly sunny weather ahead. Vaud, Geneva and Neuchatel all begin harvesting next week. In the past cantons had single, official harvest start dates but communes are now allowed more flexibility, reflecting the growing understanding of the importance of microclimates.