Why the Swiss Wine Gourmet label enhances your restaurant experience

Nothing goes better with a balmy summer evening than a fresh white wine made from local grapes. Whether you're raising a glass on a rooftop terrace in Zurich, kicking off your evening in Bern or winding down by the shores of Lake Lugano, a locally produced wine captures the atmosphere of the place and adds a special touch to the evening.

Swiss wines are true characters: precise, shaped by their respective terroirs and increasingly pleasant and light in alcohol. Ideal for hot days, without compromising on depth.

When you order Swiss wine, you not only enjoy the taste, but also short transport routes, a significantly smaller carbon footprint and strong local added value. Every bottle supports winemakers, wineries, suppliers and the rich cultural landscape of our country.

At the same time, purchasing power remains in the country and you promote sustainable tourism: restaurants that consistently serve Swiss wine are sending a clear signal in favour of regional consumption. With every sip, you are supporting innovation and diversity in local wineries.

And let's be honest: a wine from the winemaker in the next village has more authenticity than any bottle that has to travel halfway around the world first. Thanks to the Swiss Wine Gourmet label, finding a restaurant with Swiss wines on the menu has never been easier.

To be awarded the label, a restaurant must offer at least two Swiss wines by the glass all year round and five Swiss wines on its wine list. Depending on the range, one, two or three glasses are awarded:

• one glass for 25 per cent Swiss wines or ten Swiss wines on the list

• two glasses for 50 per cent Swiss wines or 15 Swiss wines on the list

• three glasses for 75 per cent or 30 items

The classification is carried out by Swiss Wine Promotion on the basis of the wine lists submitted and is reviewed regularly. This means you can be sure that the number of glasses really reflects the current range of Swiss wines on offer.

Each glass is a mini trip around Switzerland: in the Lake Geneva region, spicy Gamaret or fruity Gamay tantalise the taste buds. The Three Lakes region delights with Oeil-de-Perdrix and robust Pinot Gris. Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Noir shine in German-speaking Switzerland. South of the Alps, in Ticino, Merlot brings its characteristic notes to the glass. In Valais, Petite Arvine and Heida tell of steep terraces and alpine terroir, while Vaud shines with the subtle aromas and minerality of its Chasselas.

Next time you visit a restaurant, ask specifically for the Swiss Wine Gourmet label – the glass symbols on the wine list or at the entrance will show you the way. Fancy discovering something new off the beaten track? At swisswinegourmet.ch, you will find over 1,300 excellent addresses in all parts of the country.

Reserve your table, ask for advice from the waiting staff and order a glass of locally produced wine. Enjoy the summer freshness – sip by sip and glass by glass. Santé!