History

Des terrasses par milliers ©Swiss Wine Promotion

2021

Creation of regulations covering production of "natural wine" in Switzerland.

2019

The first Winegrowers' Festival of the third millennium perpetuates a tradition of more than two centuries. Its international openness confirms the success of an extraordinary event which has been organised five times -1905, 1927, 1955, 1977 and 1999 - during the 20th century.

2018

Born from the same parents as Divico, Divona is the first multi-resistant white grape variety.

2014

The Suzukii fly, from Japan, causes significant damage just before the harvest.

2013

Agroscope in Pully creates a new-generation hybrid grape variety, Divico, which combines resistance and quality

2007

The terraced vineyards of Lavaux are listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This international organisation has recognised the exceptional character of this wine-growing landscape born of a harmonious and centuries-old interaction between humans and their environment in order to produce a high quality wine.

2000

1993

Creation of the Vitiswiss label, which charts the practices of integrated viticulture.

1988

The canton of Geneva is a pioneer, setting up the first Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system for Swiss vineyards to respond to the crisis affecting the profession. It will be followed in subsequent years by all the other wine-producing cantons.

1986

Developed by Agroscope, sexual confusion is used to combat parasitic butterflies that attack the vine, without insecticides.

1981

Creation of Bio Suisse whose products carry the "Bud" label.

1973

Foundation of FiBL, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, in the canton of Aargau.

1970

André Jacquinet, chercheur à l’Agroscope de Changins, croise du Gamay et du Reichensteiner Blanc pour donner naissance au Gamaret et au Garanoir. Ces deux variétés à la robe intense dotés d’une importante masse tannique sont vite adoptées par les vignerons.

1948

Creation of a school which, in Lausanne, then in Changins, provides higher education in viticulture, oenology and arboriculture.

1924

In his "Course for farmers", Rudolf Steiner lays the foundations of biodynamics.

1900

1890

The agronomic research station of German-speaking Switzerland settles in Wädenswil

1886

Mildew crosses the Swiss border and complicates the lives of Swiss growers.

1882

It is discovered that copper sulphate (Bordeaux mixture) combats the mildew which arrived in Europe in 1878.

1871

Phylloxera arrives in Geneva. Half of Swiss vines will never be replanted.

1863

Powdery mildew, from America, arrives in Swiss vineyards

1850

1816

The Tambora volcano causes a "year without summer". In Lausanne, the harvest is carried out on 12 November.

1811

In Neuchâtel, the Bouvier brothers embark on the production of sparkling wines

1797

The Confrérie des Vignerons organises a party in Vevey to thank its winegrowers.

1654

The term Chasselas appears for the first time in a book.

1536

After the Reformation and the Wars of Religion, the monks leave Lavaux. Their vines are sold to individuals or municipalities. Lausanne therefore acquires the Clos des Abbayes, one of the most beautiful estates in Dézaley, which the city still owns today.

1500

1419

Helvetia becomes Roman and the vine settles in the territory of present-day Switzerland. A notarial deed mentions three names of grape varieties: Rèze, Humagne and Neyrun. A refugee in Saint-Prex, Marie de Bourgogne, offers vineyard growers Pinot Noir plants.

1313

A notarial deed mentions three names of grape varieties: Rèze, Humagne and Neyrun.

1291

The communities of the alpine valleys of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden sign a pact of mutual support which is considered the founding document of the Swiss Confederation.

1191

Duke Berchtold of Zäringhen founds a city on the banks of the Aar and gives it the name of a bear (Bär in German) that he had killed. On his death, Bern becomes an imperial city before joining the Helvetic Confederation in 1353 and becoming its capital in 1848.

1141

The Bishop of Lausanne invites religious orders to clear Lavaux to plant vines.

1000

765

In a will that has remained famous, Bishop Tello of Chur, in the Grisons, donates various goods to the convent of Disentis. One of them is an agricultural outbuilding near Sagogn which consists of orchards, fields and vines, making it the oldest written document on vines in Switzerland.

515

The King of Burgundy founds the Abbey of Saint-Maurice which still has vines 1,500 years after its foundation.

58 B.C.

Helvetia becomes Roman and grapevines appear in what is present-day Switzerland.

B.C.

58 B.C.

Helvetia becomes Roman and grapevines appear in what is present-day Switzerland.

Switzerland. Naturally.