Cave de la Côte in Tolochenaz, canton Vaud, has been named the Swiss Winery of the Year 2019 by the Vinea Association and Vinum magazine. The title is awarded as part of the Grand Prix des Vins Suisses, the largest competition for Swiss wines, which had 3,254 wines entered by 544 wineries. The wines are blind-tasted and scored by 161 judges over six days in June.

Cave de la Côte took the first two places in the Chasselas category with Coteau d’Aubonne Esprit Terroir 2018 (1st place ) and Luins la Bravade Esprit Terroir 2018 (2nd place). 

Hats off to the impressive team at this cellar, whose work since I first met them in 1986 has been simply remarkable: steady improvements to the wines, numerous awards in the last five years, and a fine new cellar – proving wrong anyone who still believes cooperatives must be a lesser breed of winery. The wines come from vineyards owned or overseen by 350 growers who work closely with the Tolochenaz team. I was so proud of them when their Gallotta 2015 won a gold medal at the Mondial de Bruxelles 2018; this is a new grape, and it takes great skill and creativity to know how to make an excellent wine from it. But in 2018 alone the winery received some 80 awards, an astonishing feat.

You might not immediately recognize the name of the winery: it was changed from Uvavins/Cave Cidis in 2018 to better reflect its work.

Five special awards given at the Grand Prix gala dinner

The gala awards dinner in Bern 24 October saw five special prizes awarded:

• Swiss Winery of the Year 2019, Cave de la Côte
• Organic award, Malvoisie 2017 AOC Valais
  Cave Sandrine, Anne-Carole and Conrad Caloz, Miège (Valais)
• Vinissimo award “Coup de cœur” White, Trésors de Famille Petite Arvine 2018, AOC Valais Maison Gilliard – 1950 Sion (Valais)
• Vinissimo award “Coup de cœur” Red, Cornalin, Excelsus 2018, AOC Valais Sélection Excelsus – 1955 Chamoson (Valais)
• Elisabeth Pasquier Discovery Award, Elise, AOC Genève
  Domaine de Chafalet – 1283 Dardagny (Geneva)

The other awards, three winners in 13 categories, are listed on the Vinea web site.