‘At the heart of the harvest’ inspires over 600 guests

Anyone who has always wanted to know what the grape harvest is like had the opportunity to find out in September: at the fifth edition of ‘Am Puls der Ernte’, 42 wineries throughout Switzerland opened their doors and let wine lovers get involved themselves. Over 600 participants took advantage of the chance to experience the highlight of the winegrowing year up close – from picking the grapes to tasting the finished wine.

Cutting grapes, hands sticky with sweet juice, the sun on their faces – many guests experienced what it means to be part of the grape harvest for the first time. Afterwards, they moved on to the cellar: tasting grape juice and must, understanding the fermentation process and then sampling local wines over a shared meal.

For many, this was the best part of the day: chatting with the winemakers in a relaxed atmosphere.

‘At the heart of the harvest’, participants can experience the beauty and challenges of our work – especially on the steep slopes of Lavaux,’ says winemaker Luc Dubouloz from the Clos des Abbayes winery.

A particular highlight was the open dialogue about sustainability in Swiss viticulture. Many visitors wanted to know how biodiversity is promoted, what opportunities and challenges organic farming brings, and what innovative ideas there are in the vineyard.

One participant reports: ‘I was able to talk to the winemaker about the challenges of organic farming – it was very informative and convincing.’

The facts show how consistent the industry is: 20% of Switzerland's vineyards are already cultivated according to organic standards, and around 90% meet the ecological performance requirements (ÖLN). This makes Switzerland one of the pioneers in sustainable viticulture in Europe.

‘At the heart of the harvest’ is an experience that brings people together. Participants not only take home wonderful memories, but also new knowledge about wine, nature, and sustainability.

SWP will continue to organise events that not only promote the discovery of Swiss wines, but also intensify direct contact between winegrowers and wine lovers.