Most Swiss wine producers work on such a small scale that many of their best wines are often limited to 5,000 bottles – or fewer. As a result, they are not widely distributed even within Switzerland. However, most wine shops in Switzerland will typically stock between 20 and 40 Swiss producers from most, if not all, of the country’s wine regions. A trip to Switzerland would therefore not be complete without seeking out its many wine shops in order to bring back one or two souvenirs on your way home.
There is not much duplication between the different shops, so it’s always worth checking their website out beforehand to see which estates and wines they stock ahead of your journey. Several of the shops are located away from bigger cities, so either a car is needed or sometime it may be easier to order online if you are staying long enough to receive a delivery. Usually shop managers and staff also have close relationships with producers, so will be keen to share their knowledge with you. Take a look at our list of some of the best wine shops in Switzerland to help you plan ahead.
The best wine shops in Switzerland
Suisse Romande
C.A.V.E. SA
Gland
The Club des Amateurs des Vins Exquis is exactly that: a club for lovers of exquisite wines. Fortunately, it is open to non- members who can choose from a selection of over 40 producers from across Switzerland and beyond. Its founder, the highly regarded Jacques Perrin, strives to find producers and wines that reflect the place they come from and deliver a memorable sensory experience. The warehouse shop in Gland (between Geneva and Lausanne) has knowledgeable, friendly staff and also sells a limited selection of quality food products and accessories. cavesa.ch
Carton Rouge
Penthalaz
François Gauthier has continued to grow the business created almost 30 years ago by his wine talent-spotting uncle Pierre Müller, listing an extensive range of more than 40 Swiss producers in a new state-of-the- art cellar just north of Lausanne. The well-balanced Switzerland list features wines not just from his home region of Vaud, but from each wine region, with a focus on organic and biodynamic producers. The rest of the list includes an impressive number of producers from almost every region of France. cartonrouge-sa.ch
Caveau de Bacchus
Geneva [also in Gland and Gstaad]
An enthusiastic team of sommeliers makes it a pleasure to shop at these premium wine stores. With many wine shops across Switzerland (including Gland and Gstaad) the original is conveniently located in Geneva. They carry a broad range of producers from Geneva as well as Valais, Vaud and the German-speaking Region, but only a limited selection from Ticino. On most weekdays the Geneva branch extends into a wine bar and restaurant, Chez Bacchus, which offers a choice of 40 wines by the glass and a list of 800 wines. caveaudebacchus.ch
Le Passeur de Vin
Geneva [also in Geneva (Eaux-Vives), Lausanne and Zürich]
Organic, biodynamic and natural wines play an important role at Le Passeur de Vin. Evidence of this is the lunar calendar on its homepage, highlighting fruit, flower, root and leaf days, and describing their wines as ‘pure living products’. The selection features more than 25 Swiss producers, mainly from Valais, Vaud and Geneva, and includes a mix of renowned and lesser- known estates. There is also a strong range from neighbouring France as well as diverse sake offerings. In Geneva, the larger shop is away from the centre, while the smaller branch in Eaux-Vives is more easily accessed down by the lake. lepasseurdevin.ch
Others
Le Naturiste, Fribourg
30+ Swiss producers. lenaturiste.ch
Cantina del Mulino, Fribourg
20+ Swiss producers. cantinadelmulino.ch
German-speaking region
Smith & Smith
Zürich [other branches in Zürich and Bern]
A little over 10 years ago, Markus Lichtenstein launched his contemporary wine store concept; he now runs several shops in Zürich and Bern. Each one has a young and dynamic look and feel, with staff to match. The Switzerland list represents each region and it’s a fascinating range of wines which encourages exploration. The rest of the world is equally well covered. Organic, biodynamic and natural wines are commonplace at Smith & Smith. The Europaallee store at Bridge, the new food and drink hub in central Zürich, doubles as a wine bar. smithandsmith.ch
Carl Studer Vinothek
Luzern
Manager Roger Janz greets customers warmly to this quality-conscious store, not far from the centre of town. The Switzerland list covers every region of the country (except Vaud) and has a particularly strong representation from Ticino. While the number of Swiss producers may appear limited, each one is recognised as a leading name in its respective region and the wines are highly sought after. Carl Studer also carries wines from six other countries in Europe, as well as a particularly interesting and eclectic range from California and Washington State. studer-vinothek.ch
Gerstl Weinselektionen
Spreitenbach (near Baden)
Gerstl stocks more than 60 Swiss producers, including several of the top names in each region.The list shows strength and depth in the German-speaking Region, especially Graubünden, as well as an extensive range from the rest of the world. The shops only hold a limited number of wines, so it is worth checking the full list on the website (only in German). To help you discover Swiss wines there are themed compilations in cases of six at special prices. Gerstl operates two stores of its own and works with several partner wine shops in the German-speaking Region, which carry part of their wine list. Many of them are located away from the main city centres so a car is advisable. gerstl.ch
Baur au Lac Vins
Zürich [also four other stores around Zürich and Lake Zürich]
This Zürich chain is connected to the city’s legendary Baur au Lac hotel, whose reputation for expertise in fine wines and spirits goes back to 1844. While there is a branch just steps from the hotel, visit this one in the underground shopping mall at the main station. They offer a well-curated selection of over 20 leading Swiss producers as well as hundreds of top producers from more than a dozen other countries. Whether you’re a wine lover or just curious, the relaxed yet refined wine shopping experience is rooted in the same tradition of quality that has made the hotel world-famous. bauraulacvins.ch
Others
Vinothek Brancaia, Zürich + Lenzerheide
40+ Swiss producers. vinothek-brancaia.ch
Martel AG, Zürich + St Gallen
30+ Swiss producers. martel.ch
Le Passeur de Vin, Zürich
25+ Swiss producers. lepasseurdevin.ch
Studio Wino (natural wines), Zürich
20+ Swiss producers. studiowino.ch
Schubi Weine, Luzern
40+ Swiss producers. schubiweine.ch
Ticino
Arvino
Lugano [also Melano and Zürich]
These luxury shops invite you to indulge in the world of wine, and the qualified staff will help you to discover suitable wines to match your preferences, with many outposts across Switzerland. There is a strong selection of top Ticino producers and wines as well as leading names from some of the other Swiss regions. The owners have dealt in fine and rare wines for three decades and provide a range of customized services to their clients who collect the very best names in wine. arvi.ch/en
Nationwide
Mövenpick Wein (Vins/ Vini)
Soon after World War II, Mövenpick opened its first restaurants in Switzerland. The wines being served proved so popular that it decided to start selling them in dedicated wine stores. 75 years on, it is the only specialist wine retailer nationwide and manages a chain of about 40 stores across the country. In view of the number of stores, it does well to stock a sizeable range of Swiss producers, which includes the Staatskellerei Zürich acquired by Mövenpick in 1997. The list of wines from the rest of the world is equally extensive. In Zürich the Mövenpick Wein-Bar, in easy walking distance of the main train station, is a popular destination for wine lovers. moevenpick-wein.com/fr
Manor
This premium department store brand is present all over Switzerland; 25 of its 56 stores have a Manor Food store-within-a-store featuring a specialist wine department. In each one there is a trained sommelier ready to give help and advice, which makes Manor a real destination for wine lovers. The Swiss selection is extensive, covering each of the wine regions and offering wines that range from everyday drinking to laying down for future enjoyment. Food pairing is made easy as there is a wide choice of fresh foods and top brands available all under the same roof. manor.ch
Flaschenpost
The name, which best translates as ‘bottles by post’, is the clue to this e-commerce business. Flaschenpost was launched in 2007 by two university students, who spotted that wine was missing out on the internet revolution that was changing shopping habits. They created a user-friendly online portal that let shoppers choose from an initial range of 2,000 wines sourced from a dozen wine shops. Flaschenpost now offers a choice of over 30,000 wines from a much bigger number of suppliers. The current catalogue includes over 2,000 Swiss wines from more than 100 Swiss producers. This largest online wine retailer in Switzerland is true to its simple credo: ‘We want to make it as easy as possible to buy wine.’ flaschenpost.ch
Others
Globus
Department stores with wine departments in seven cities; 30+ Swiss producers. globus.ch/fr/vin-delicatessa
