A day in Ticino: a sporty cycle through the vines

Anyone who has ever travelled by car from Switzerland to Italy has most likely passed through the Mendrisiotto - a small region in the southernmost tip of the country that stretches all the way to the Italian border. ‘Unfortunately, when you think of the Mendrisiotto, the first thing that often comes to mind is all the traffic,’ says Rocco Travella from Mendrisiotto Terroir.

Yet the region has much more to offer than just a motorway leading south. This includes, for example, a hilly landscape planted with vines that invites you to go on long bike tours and hikes. Although it is the smallest region in the canton of Ticino, 40 per cent of all Ticino's wine is produced here. ‘There are over 40 wineries in Mendrisiotto alone, and we are really proud of that,’ says Travella.

You can visit some of them on a Bike & Wine Tour. Equipped with a mountain bike and accompanied by a guide, the tour takes you to four different wine cellars run by local winegrowers. Local specialities such as cheese and salami are served with the wine tasting.

The best-known grape variety in Mendrisiotto is undoubtedly Merlot. Rocco Travella raves about the wines made from it. ‘Due to our location and our soils, we have very special terroirs. This enables us to produce excellent wines that have been awarded the Grand Prix des Vins Suisses and the Merlot World Championship.’

During the Bike & Wine Tour, you can savour some of these excellent wines. There's no need to worry about the experience being too strenuous: The route is mainly downhill!

Hungry from so many new impressions? Then off to the ‘Corte del vino Ticino’. In this cosy restaurant, which is located in an old mill, head chef Fabio Spina treats his guests to creative Ticino cuisine. Month after month, he draws inspiration from the seasons and local produce to create a menu of typical dishes.

The restaurant also boasts an impressive wine cellar. Finally, the ‘Corte del vino Ticino’ works with over 40 local winegrowers. The in-house sommeliers recommend the right wine for every dish. An ideal place to spend an evening in good company and discover the wines of the region.

Further inspiration for restaurants with a good selection of Swiss wines can be found on the Swiss Wine Gourmet website. Over 1000 restaurants that have been awarded the label of the same name are already listed there.