Number one wine is from Valais and best organic wine from Geneva

On my Swiss village windowsill, just waiting to be opened: Cave Cretacombe’s (Chamoson, Valais) Johannisberg 2011, amphore-matured, the country’s top wine in 2012, notable for its beautiful balance

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Head for Valais for the best bottle of wine in the country, a Johannisberg from Chamoson, but go to Ticino if you want to sample the collection from the top winemaker in Switzerland. And Geneva is home to the best in the growing field of Swiss organic wines.

The Swiss national wine awards, the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse 2012, were announced Tuesday evening at a gala event in Bern, organized jointly by the Vinea Association and the wine revue Vinum.

The three special prize winners:

Claudio Tamborini from canton Ticino, in Lamone, was named the Swiss Winemaker of the Year 2012; the prize is given to the producer who obtains the highest overall number of points during the competition. Tamborini was also awarded two other first places prizes, for his Merlot and for wines with residual sugar;

Domaine de Miolan in Choulex, canton Geneva, won the Prix Bio (organic wines) for its Gamaret 2011, awarded the most points among organic wines;

Domaine du Crêtacombe in Chamoson, canton Valais won the Prix Vinissimo for its Johannisberg 2011, matured in amphores; the award goes to the wine that has the highest overall number of points at the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse.

Some 3,000 wines were entered by more than 600 Swiss wine producers and the bottles were judged by 150 professionals in June 2012. In total about 30 percent of the wines wine silver or gold medals, in line with international wine competition standards.

The wines are organized by 12 categories, by grape variety or type of vinification, such as rosé, sweet or sparkling. The top 6 wines in each category are named finalists for the Gala event, but only the top 3 are awarded medals.

You can find the other gold and silver medal winners at www.grandprixduvinsuisse.ch and www.vinea.ch

Vinum, the European wine revue, is publishing a special report on the winning producers and wines.

New iPhone app, Vinea Swiss Wines, available at midnight: consumers’ guide to best Swiss wines

And in an exciting new development for consumers, winning wines’ producers are listed in the new iPhone application, Vinea Swiss Wines, that goes live in the Apple Store at midnight, as the gala event draws to a close.

Without further ado, here is the complete list of winners of the 12 categories of wine, as well as those nominated as finalists.

Chasselas

1^st place

Fendant Balavaud Grand Cru 2011 AOC Valais

Jean-René Germanier, 1963 Vétroz

 

2^nd place

Champ-Noé 2011 Villette Lavaux

Domaine Blondel Jean-Luc Blondel, 1096 Cully

 

3^rd place

Château de Praz 2011 Vully AOC

Château de Praz SA Marylène and Louis-Charles Bovard-Chervet, 1788 Praz

Nominated

Champréveyres 2011 Neuchâtel AOC

Caves de la Ville de Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel

Fendant “Classique” 2010 AOC Valais

Domaine des Muses Robert Taramarcaz, 3960 Sierre

Fendant St-Léonard 2011 AOC Valais

Nouveau St-Clément Christian Lamon et Cie SA, 3978 Flanthey

Mueller-Thurgau

1^st place

Langenmooser RxS Spätlese 2010 AOC Zürich

Familie Zahner Weinbau Nicklaus Zahner,  8467 Truttikon

 

2^nd place

Schlattinger 2011 AOC Thurgau

Schmidweine Thomas Schmid, 8255 Schlattingen

 

3^rd place

Malanser Riesling-Silvaner 2011 AOC Graubünden

Von Salis AG, 7302 Landquart

Nominated

Riesling-Sylvaner 2011 AOC Wilchingen

Haumesser Sylvia and Markus Gysel, 8217 Wilchingen

Tschäpperli 2011 AOC Basellandschaft

Tschäpperliweine Dieter Von Blarer, 4147 Aesch

Riesling-Sylvaner 2011 AOC Graubünden

Weingut Davaz Andrea Davaz, 7306 Fläsch

Other white single grape (varietal) wines

1^st place

Johannisberg, made in amphore, 2011 AOC Valais

Cave du Crêtacombe Fabienne and Michel Constantin-Comby, 1955 Chamoson

 

2^nd place

Petite Arvine 2011 AOC Valais

Cave le Tambourin Ismaël and Marcel Bonvin, 3960 Sierre

 

3^rd place

Malanser Chardonnay 2010 AOC Graubünden

Weingut Treib Ueli and Jürg Liesch, 7208 Malans

Nominated

Petite Arvine “Vieilles Vignes” 2011 AOC Valais

Cave Fernand Cina SA Manfred & Damien Cina, 3970 Salgesch

Traminer 2011 Vully AOC

Domaine Chervet Jean-Daniel Chervet 1788 Praz

Chardonnay 2011 Neuchâtel AOC

Olivier Lavanchy Vins 2000 Neuchâtel

White blends

1^st place

Chevalier Blanc 2010 AOC Valais

Vins des Chevaliers Patrick Z’Brun, 3970 Salgesch

 

2^nd place

Label Vigne d’Or Varietas 2010 Yvorne Chablais AOC

Artisans Vignerons d’Yvorne, 1853 Yvorne

 

3^rd place

Cuvée Salomée 2011 AOC Zürichsee

Weinbau Wetli Anne Grethe and Samuel Wetli 8708 Männedorf

Nominated

Cuvée de l’Arzille 2010 Vully AOC

Domaine Chervet Jean-Daniel Chervet 1788 Praz

Les Innovatifs Blanc 2010 La Côte AOC

Domaine de la Fornelette Charles-Henri and Sébastien Meylan 1172 Bougy-Villars

Défi Blanc les Titans 2011 AOC Valais

Provins Valais 1950 Sion

Rosé and blanc de noir wines

1^st place

Les Chaumes Oeil-de-Perdrix 2011 La Côte AOC

Cave Cidis SA Thierry Walz, 1131 Tolochenaz

 

2^nd place

Gamay Martigny Rosé 2011 AOC Valais

Alexis Jacquérioz SA Michael Herminjard, 1920 Martigny

 

3^rd place

Oeil-de-Perdrix 2011 La Côte AOC

Parfum de Vigne Jean-Jacques Steiner, 1195 Dully

Nominated

Château d’Auvernier Oeil-de-Perdrix 2011 Neuchâtel AOC

Cave du Château d’Auvernier Thierry Grosjean, 2012 Auvernier

Blanc de Noir 2011 La Côte AOC

Domaine Henri Cruchon Henri and Raoul Cruchon, 1112 Echichens

Réserve du Patron Hallauer Blanc de Noir 2011 Hallau AOC Schaffhausen

Rimuss und Weinkellerei Rahm AG Peter Rahm, 8215 Rahm

Pinot Noir

1^st place

Pinot Noir Clos de Balavaud Grand Cru Vétroz 2011 AOC Valais

Les Fils Maye Charles-Albert Fumeaux, 1908 Riddes

 

2^nd place

Pur Sang 2009 Neuchâtel AOC

Domaine de Chambleau Louis-Philippe Burgat, 2013 Colombier

 

3^rd place

Pinot Noir Grond 2010 Fläscher AOC

Weingut Davaz Andrea Davaz, 7306 Fläsch

Nominated

Pinot Noir Barrique 2010 AOC Uetikon

Weingut Erich Meier, 8707 Uetikon Am See

Sélection Barrique Nussbaumen Pinot Noir 2010 AOC Thurgau

Weingut Saxer 7537 Madeleine Saxer, 8537 Nussbaumen

Pinot Noir Kruog Barrique 2010 AOC Fläsch

Weingut Thomas Marugg, 7306 Fläsch

Gamay

1^st place

Gamay de Vétroz 2011 AOC Valais

Cave des Deux Rives Claude Fournier et Fils. 1996 Brignon (Nendaz)

 

2^nd place

Gamay Réserve du Domaine 2011 AOC Genève

Domaine des Molards Michel Desbaillet, 1281 Russin

 

3^rd place

Gamay Aigle Rouge 2010 Chablais AOC

Les Celliers du Chablais AOC, 1860 Aigle

Nominated

Gamay 2011 AOC Valais

Cave du Paradou Augusto Magallanes, 1973 Nax

Gamay “Senteur d’Eté” 2011 AOC Valais

Cave la Fournaise Philippe Epiney, 3968 Veyras

Atlantique 2010 Vaud AOC

Cave Philippe Bovet, 1271 Givrins

Merlot

1^st place

SanZeno Costamagna 2009 Ticino DOC

Tamborini Carlo Eredi SA, 6814 Lamone

 

2^nd place

Clos du Châtelard – Apicius 2009 Villeneuve Chablais AOC

Hammel SA, 1180 Rolle

 

3^rd place

Merlot 2009 AOC Valais

Cave Gilbert Devayes, 1912 Leytron

Nominated

Rovere 2010 Ticino DOC

Cantina Monti S.a.g.l. ,6936 Cademario

Merlot AOC 1^er Cru Coteaux de Peney 2009 AOC Genève

Domaine des Pendus, 1242 Satigny

Domaine de Crochet Merlot 2009 Mont-sur-Rolle la Côte AOC

Caves Hammel SA, Charles Rolaz and Fabio Penta, 1180 Rolle

Other single grape red wines

1^st place

Syrah Réserve 2010 AOC Valais

Domaine des Muses Robert Taramarcaz, 3960 Sierre

 

2^nd place

Cornalin 2010 AOC Valais

Kellerei Leukersonne, 3952 Susten

 

3^rd place

Cornalin Réserve 2009 AOC Valais

Jean-René Germanier, 1963 Vétroz

Nominated

Syrah de Vétroz 2011 AOC Valais

Cave des Deux Rives, 1963 Vétroz

Syrah fût de chêne 2010 AOC Valais

Cave du Paradou, 1973 Nax

Cornalin Vitis Antiqua 1798 2010 AOC Valais

Kellerei Leukersonne, 3952 Susten

Red blends

1^st place

Lettres de Noblesse Malbec/Cabernet 2009 Saint-Saphorin AOC Lavaux

Henri Badoux SA Vins, 1860 Aigle

 

2^nd place

Grand Rouge Domaine de Châteauneuf 2011 AOC Valais

Etat du Valais – Domaine de Châteauneuf, 1950 Châteauneuf-Sion

 

3^rd place

Cave des Rossillonnes Dominoir 2010 La Côte AOC

Cave des Rossillonnes Martial Besson, 1184 Vinzel

Nominated

Vigna d’Antan 2010 Rosso del Ticino DOC

Brivio Vini SA, 6850 Mendrisio

Modus Vivendi Vidomne (barrique) Chamoson 2009 AOC Valais

Cave du Vidomne 1955 St-Pierre-de-Clages

Chevalier Rouge 2009 AOC Valais

Vins des Chevaliers, 3970 Salquenen

Red, white and rose wines with residual sugar of at least 8g/l

1^st place

La Vita è Bella 2009 Vino bianco dolce da tavola Svizzero

Tamborini Carlo Eredi SA, 6814 Lamone

 

2^nd place

Saint-Martin 2010 AOC Valais

Domaine du Mont d’Or SA, 1950 Sion

 

3^rd place

Domaine Tourbillon 2009 AOC Valais

Provins Valais, 1950 Sion

Nominated

Evoeh ! 2009 AOC Chablais

Domaine du Chêne, 1880 Le Chêne-sur-Bex

Clos de Châteauneuf Barrique Liquoreuse 2010 AOC Valais

Philippe Varone Vins SA, 1950 Sion

Les Grains Nobles 2005 AOC Valais

Rouvinez Vins SA, 3960 Sierre

Sparkling wines

1^st place

Bouvier Brut  (without vintage) Neuchâtel AOC

Caves Châtenay-Bouvier SA, 2017 Boudry

 

2^nd place

Cuvée Rogivue Blanc de blancs 2010 St-Saphorin Lavaux AOC

Les Fils Rogivue, 1071 Chexbres

 

3^rd place

Funambule traditional method sparkling wine brut Martigny AOC Valais

Patricia and Gérald Besse, 1921 Martigny-Combe

Nominated

Eclypse, without vintage, Lavaux AOC

Domaine d’Aucrêt, 1096 Cully

Etoile de Miolan 2010 AOC Genève

Domaine de Miolan, 1244 Choulex

Val d’Eve – Brut Réserve Blanc de Blancs, without vintage

Hammel SA 1180 Rolle