Note: I’m still on an extended vacation in the US, but want to alert everyone to the biggest annual wine event(s) in Switzerland: the wineries open days. Here’s a summary of the information provided by Swiss Wine Promotion – and I’ll be back on wine writing duty by the middle of next week.

Six regions, four weekends of open houses at wineries

The open days are held on four weekends in six wine regions across the country between 29 April and 29 May 2016. It’s the perfect time to sample the new vintages, 2015 for the whites in general, and many 2014 reds. Neuchatel, the Three Lakes region and German-speaking Swiss areas kick off the spring visits, followed by Valais, Vaud and Geneva and Ticino. See the schedules below.

New this year: Swiss Wine Promotion is holding a contest with many wine prizes.

Schedule

Neuchatel, 29-30 April – www.neuchatel-vins-terroir.ch

Three Lakes, weekend of 1 May – www.bielerseewein.ch

German-speaking Switzerland, weekend of 1 May – www.offeneweinkeller.ch

Valais, 5, 6 and 7 May – www.lesvinsduvalais.ch

Vaud, 14 and 15 May – www.vins-vaudois.com

Vully, 13, 14 and 15 May – www.vin-vully.ch

Geneva, 28 May – www.geneveterroir.ch

Ticino, 28 and 29 May – www.ticinowine.ch