The wine region of Lucerne and Central Switzerland

Viticulture in the canton of Lucerne was significant during the late Middle Ages but had almost disappeared by the mid-20th century. Over the past two decades, the vineyard area has grown significantly, now covering nearly 80 hectares. Today, winemaking is one of Lucerne’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors.

The steep south-facing slopes and lakeside locations of the vineyards provide a favourable microclimate, with soils rich in minerals. A warming climate, with sufficient water and cool nights benefits the growth of the vines and has resulted in a unique variety of grape types and wines.

The main growing areas are Seetal (the largest), Lake Lucerne, Lake Sempach, and Wiggertal. The primary varieties are Pinot Noir and Müller-Thurgau, with more than a third of the vineyards planted with PIWI varieties.

The area under vine in the canton of Zug has grown steadily in recent years and now covers almost ten hectares. 65 per cent of this is planted with white grape varieties.

All seven valley communities in the canton of Zug now have vineyards again. These are strung like a string of pearls around Lake Zug, which creates an ideal microclimate for winegrowing.

The canton's largest vineyard is located in Hünenberg in the hamlet of Meisterswil, directly on the River Reuss. Fungus-resistant grapes are grown there on an area of around 2.2 hectares.

Historically, Uri imported Lombard red wines, its residents’ favourite drink of through the Gotthard Pass, often transported by mules and packhorses. According to legend, the Devil’s Bridge at Gotthard was even built for the transport of wine.

Today, wineries mainly in Altdorf, Bürglen, and Silenen cultivate about five hectares. Nowhere in Central Switzerland are the conditions for wine-growing in spring and autumn as good as in the canton of Uri, thanks to the influence of the Föhn-on the climate, resulting in, robust wines comparable to those from Bündner Herrschaft.

In Obwalden, place names like Wiibärgli and Rebstock testify to a long winemaking tradition, now being revived in Sarnen in the Sarneraa Valley.

In the canton of Nidwalden, a small but growing wine culture exists. Vineyards on the south-facing slopes of the Birgenberg are not widely known, as the wines are available in very limited quantities.

The cantons of Uri, Obwalden, and Nidwalden are combined together in federal statistics. Together, they have a total of 6.3 hectares of vineyards, with 55% planted with red varieties.

The first written record of winemaking in Schwyz dates back to Abbot Werner (1173–1192) of the Einsiedeln monastery, who established a vineyard near Pfäffikon. By 1343, vineyards were also mentioned in Küssnacht and Schwyz.

In the 19th century, Schwyz’s vineyard area was several times larger than it is today. However, increasing imports, phylloxera, and downy mildew caused a significant decline, reducing the vineyard area from 50 hectares in 1886 to just seven hectares by 1960.

Today, winemaking in Schwyz’s renowned cherry-growing region has seen a revival. The wines, known for their intense aromas, are considered rare specialties. The canton’s 36 hectares of vineyards are primarily located around Lake Zurich, in municipalities like Freienbach, Altendorf, Wangen, and Einsiedeln. The only exception is the Immensee/Küssnacht vineyards, which are closer to Central Switzerland.