Autumnal Wine Delight above the Clouds

In the gentle hills of Geneva, where vines thrive in harmony with Swiss nature, fine wines are produced that will take you high above the clouds this autumn. As part of the SWISS Taste of Switzerland, SWISS guests in First and Business Class can enjoy exquisite wines from renowned winegrowers and culinary delights from the Swiss cantons every three months. This time the focus is on Geneva. SWISS Wine Consultant Chandra Kurt presents the perfect menu accompaniments from the Geneva region, complemented by wines from Burgenland.

First Class discoveries

White wine: Grand Cru Yvorne 2021, Château Maison Blanche, Chablais AOC

The von Erlach family built this historic manor house in the middle of the vineyards in 1573. It is a member of the Clos, Domaines et Châteaux association, a quality label that unites some of the most beautiful vineyards in the canton of Vaud.

Chasselas is the most important white grape variety in Switzerland. The most famous wines are produced on the shores of Lake Geneva and most of them do not bear the name Chasselas on the label, but the name of the village or commune of origin.

This Yvorne is a pure Chasselas, elegant, juicy and wonderfully refreshing. Its freshness and discreet acidity give it a racy temperament with notes of white flowers, green apples and a hint of honey. On the palate, it develops a discreet creaminess.

Tip : The best way to visit the domain is to take the train from Montreux towards the Valais, on the left bank of the Rhône. 

In a wine cellar there are large wine barrels. At the back of the picture a man is visible. The path to him is paved with stones and wet from the wine.
A view into the wine cellar of the Domaine de la Maison Blanche. © Regis Colombo
ictured is the Yvorne wine bottle with the 2021 vintage. A sketch of the winery can be seen on the label.
The Yvorne is a pure Chasselas with notes of white flowers, green apples and a hint of honey.

Red wine: Merlot "M" 2018, Slate, Burgenland
Burgenland is Austria's easternmost province and its wines are world famous. This single-varietal Merlot 'M' comes from the one-hectare Eisenberg vineyard, best known for its Blaufränkisch. Here, however, winemaker Uwe Schiefer presses one of Austria's top Merlots on clay and slate soils.

He uses biodynamic methods, his own compost and no insecticides or herbicides. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 20 months in 225-litre barrels. It is then bottled without fining or filtration. The result is a powerful, lively red wine with notes of wild strawberries, liquorice, pepper and blackcurrants.

Tip for Burgenland: During a visit to the region, numerous wine taverns invite you to discover the local wines and dishes.
Burgenland

 

The picture shows the countryside in Burgenland, Austria. In the background you can see some small houses with red roofs. Particularly striking are the many grapevines that can be found in the hilly landscape of Burgenland.
The wines of the Eisenberg are especially known for the grape variety Blaufränkisch. © ÖWM / Robert Herbst
Pictured is a dark wine bottle bearing the name Slate. The label is painted with abstract dots of colour.
The single-varietal Merlot "M" is aged for 20 months and bottled without fining or filtration.

Business Class discoveries

White wine: Grüner Veltliner Lion 2022, Sohm & Kracher, Burgenland

Tyrolean Aldo Sohm is one of the world's top sommeliers. Today, he is the head sommelier at Le Bernardin, the three-Michelin-star restaurant in New York. As a declaration of love to his homeland, he created the Sohm & Kracher wine line with top Austrian winemaker Gerhard Kracher.

One of the wines is the Grüner Veltliner Lion. It offers a tangy, crisp start, reminiscent of lime, fleur de sel and white roses. It is so refreshing that you want to cool your nose with it. The palate is as juicy and clear as an ice-cold mountain stream.

Tip for New York: In Midtown, New York, there is a wine bar named after Aldo Sohms. He describes it as a mixture of the energy of New York and the relaxed atmosphere of his living room. 
Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Two men are smiling at the camera. Both are holding a glass of white wine. Vines can be seen in the background.
Top winemaker Gerhard Kracher (left) together with the world Somali Aldo Sohm (right).
Pictured is the wine bottle of the green Veltiner. On the label is a hissing green lion.
Aldo Sohm's declaration of love for his homeland, the sparkling green Veltiliner.
The picture is taken in black and white. Two men are standing with a wine glass in their hands in front of many small wine barrels piled up in the room.
Together they created the wine line Sohm & Kracher.

Red Wine: Gamaret AOC 2022, Domaine Les Perrières, Peissy, Geneva region

Visitors to the Geneva region come across picturesque wine-growing villages such as Peissy, which lies 10km from the city in the shelter of the hills. Domaine Les Perrières has been here since 1794 and is now run by the eighth generation of the Rochaix family.

The two reds, Gamaret and Garanoir, are among the region's signature wines and were created in the early 1970s by crossing Gamay and Reichensteiner. They produce wonderfully full-bodied, dark and extremely charming reds.

This Gamaret seduces the palate with notes of black cherries, blackcurrants and dried plums. The tannins are silky and delicate, ideal when the red wine is not too heavy.

Discover Geneva's winegrowers: Geneva is the fourth largest of Switzerland's six wine regions, after Valais, Vaud and German-speaking Switzerland. If you are in the region, make a detour and visit the winegrowers at their estates. The Rochaix family winery, for example, offers tastings of a selection of eight wines in their cellar. 
lesperrieres.ch

Pictured is a family consisting of four men and one woman. They are all toasting with a glass of wine and laughing. In the background are many different bottles of wine and the logo of the family winery.
The Rochaix family is the eighth generation to run the winery, Domaine Les Perriès.
Pictured is a bottle of Gamaret AOC red wine. A deer is painted in watercolour above the label.
A light red wine with notes of black cherries, cassis and prunes.
The panorama of Peissey was photographed from above. The green of the vines stretches far into the distance.
The picturesque winegrowing village of Peissey is just ten kilometers from Geneva.

SWISS Taste of Switzerland
Since December 2002, SWISS has regularly taken its First, Business and Premium Economy Class guests on long-haul flights from Switzerland on a culinary voyage of discovery through Switzerland's various regions. Top chefs who have been awarded Michelin stars and GaultMillau points create high-quality, varied dishes from their home cantons for SWISS passengers every three months. The focus is on regional and seasonal specialities that guarantee a culinary flight of fancy. The menus are rounded off by wine and cheese specialities from the respective region. SWISS has welcomed a total of 79 guest chefs from all 26 Swiss cantons on board during the 20-year success story of "SWISS Taste of Switzerland".

Text & photos: Chandra Kurt

 

Publication date: 06.09.23

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