The wine region Geneva

Genève ©Genève Terroir

A vineyard full of charm

Geneva, city and country intermingle in a surprising way. Barely ten kilometers from the headquarters of the UN and the WTO, bucolic parcels of Garanoir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Merlot give birth to increasingly renowned vintages. The proximity of the Jura and Pre-Alps mountains, as well as the influence of Lake Geneva and the Rhone, give rise to a mosaic of microclimates. Combined with a great heterogeneity of the soils, this variety has encouraged the winegrowers to diversify the traditional grape varieties based on Gamay and Chasselas. In this vineyard, which has always been a pioneer, the winegrowers are multiplying the trials of new grape varieties in order to offer a wide variety of original and characterful wines to a cosmopolitan clientele.

Although Chasselas remains the dominant white grape variety, Geneva winemakers have had great success at international wine events with wines from classic grape varieties such as Chardonnay. Among the red wines, Gamay holds the first place with excellent wines, very well structured. However, Pinot Noir and other red varieties are gaining ground.

Distribution of grape varieties

These graphs present some key figures for the wines of Geneva

9%

Surface CH

47

Grape varieties

130

Producers

56%

Red surface

(769 HA)

44%

White surface

(605 HA)

A

B

C

D

E

F

A
164%

Chasselas, 2251 HA

B
21%

Gamay, 293 HA

C
12%

Pinot Noir, 159 HA

D
9%

Gamaret, 120 HA

E
8%

Chardonnay, 115 HA

F
-114%

Others, -1564 HA

Sub-regions

The Geneva region has 1 AOC and 22 AOC Premier Cru.

AOC Coteau de Choulex
AOC Geneva
AOC Premier Cru Château de Choully
AOC Premier Cru Châteaz du Crest
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Bossy
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Bourdigny
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Chevrens
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Choully
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Collex
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Genthod
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Lully
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de Peissy
AOC Premier Cru Coteau de la Vigne blanche
AOC Premier Cru Coteau des Baillets
AOC Premier Cru Coteaux de Dardagny
AOC Premier Cru Coteaux de Peney
AOC Premier Cru Côtes de Landecy
AOC Premier Cru Côtes de Russin
AOC Premier Cru Domaine de l'Abbaye
AOC Premier Cru Grand Carraz
AOC Premier Cru La Feuillée
AOC Premier Cru Mandement de Jussy
AOC Premier Cru Rougemont
Switzerland. Naturally.