 |
|
|
IN THE MEDIA
Coop presents : The Grand Prix du Vin Suisse 2008
Organized by VINEA and VINUM, the European wine review
A charismatic Swiss wine ambassador
Madeleine Gay of Sion has been named the “Swiss Winemaker of the Year.” The award recognizes not only her success as a notable oenologue, but also the success of a wine cooperative and of canton Valais.
The special prize Vinissimo has also been won by Valais, while the Prix Bio Suisse goes to eastern Switzerland.
Madeleine Gay’s job title says much: she is the cellarmaster at Provins Valais. She is responsible for developing a range of wines that carry this name, as well as a
line of prestige wines. Since this amiable daughter of Sion farmers joined Switzerland’s largest wine cooperative in 1981 she has focused on the native grape varieties
of Valais. It was not an easy path, given the emphasis at the time on growing varieties that were known to produce good quantities of grapes and to be money-makers.
She remained firm, using her strong personality to convince growers and producers alike to take advantage of the treasures Valais offered. She also managed to persuade
consumers from throughout Switzerland to appreciate canton Valais’s specialties. She has written an important page in the history of Swiss viticulture thanks to her major
contribution to promoting Provins, but also Valais, as a centre for quality wines.
Madeleine Gay takes over as Winemaker of the Year from Diego Mathier in Salquenen, Valais, the first winner of this title, awarded in 2007.
Special prizes : Vinissimo and Prix Bio Suisse
The three best wines in each of 11 categories traditionally win a special prize during the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse. Alongside these awards are two others: Vinissimo,
given to the producer wine received the highest rating from the competition’s judges. For 2008 the prize goes to Vins des Chevaliers in Salquenen for its single grape
red wine Chevalier Rouge 2006, which thus becomes the “best Swiss wine” among the 1,800 entered in the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse competition at the end of June.
The second special prize is the Prix Bio Suissse, which for 2008 goes to Edy Geiger in Saint Gallen for his Buechberger Maréchal Foch Barrique 2006. He oversees a small
vineyard in Thal but he has become a significant figure and is known as a pioneer for Swiss bio wines.
Winners by category: Graubuenden shows its strength
The Grand Prix du Vin Suisse has never had so many wine producers take part in the competition. The participation of different regions and different language areas was
far greater in 2008 than in 2007. In terms of growing area, French-speaking Switzerland was particularly well represented. Graubuenden, which did not appear at all among
the winners in 2007, stood out this year from the group of 66 finalists by taking all of the awards in the Pinot Noir category, clearly demonstrating its prowess. This
was not the only surprise. Neuchatel won the coveted and well-deserved first prize for rosé wines, and third place for Merlot wines, normally the domain of Ticino, went
to a Valais wine which is vinified by a cellar in canton Vaud !
The 11 categories for the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse are: Chasselas / Mueller-Thurgau / Other single-grape white wines / White blends / Sweet wines / Rosés / Pinot Noir /
Gamay / Merlot / Other single-grape red wines / Red blends. (See the attached complete list of six finalists and the winners for each category).
The Grand Prix du Vin Suisse is the only independent wine competition in Switzerland.
Sponsored by retailer Coop, it is organized by VINEA and Vinum European wine review, who collaborated for the third time this year. The goal of the competition is to
encourage wine producers in their efforts to produce wines of excellent quality and to give them a means of efficiently publicizing their work on a national scale.
All the wines that were nominated are listed in the new Swiss Wine Guide 2009/2010 which is published 7 November 2008
(www.guide-des-vins-suisses.ch).
Press release
Swiss Wine Guide 2009-2010
Definitive reference: the best of Swiss wines
The third edition of the Guide des vins suisses/Schweizer Weinführer, co-published by Ringier and VINEA, is now out. The book makes a significant
contribution to the promotion of Swiss wines, noted for their rich diversity. This bible of Swiss wines, 472 pages, contains entries for nearly 450
of the country’s best wine producers, who together offer a representative picture of Swiss wines. For the first time, the book is being published in English,
as the Swiss Wine Guide. This essential reference for wine consumers will be presented 7 November in Zurich during the elegant annual gala event, Swiss Wine Night.
What a challenge, to bring together in one book the six wine regions of Switzerland, emphasizing the individuality of each and presenting the country’s best wine producers!
The result is the Swiss Wine Guide (SWG), produced by the VINEA Association with support from Swiss Wine Promotion and the Federal Agricultural Office.
The guide takes as its starting point the six wine regions of Switzerland – Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Ticino, German-speaking Switzerland and the three lakes area of Neuchatel,
Vully and Bienne. It offers a portrait of the selected producers and gives a wealth of practical information to help and guide consumers, about the producers’ vineyard sizes,
the wines they make and details for cellar visits.
The distinguishing features of each of these regions are presented, along with their standard-bearer wines. Consumers are counselled on how to best explore these areas and
they are given tips for learning more about the wines. There is useful information about how Switzerland’s vineyards are evolving and about changing consumer habits.
The Swiss Wine Guide focuses on grape varieties grown in Switzerland, whose diversity in relation to the size of the growing area is unique in the world. The 33-plus grape
varieties presented include the best known and most widely planted (Pinot, Chasselas) as well as others that are more regional, such as Amigne, Servagnin and Räuschling.
The Grand Prix du Vin Suisse
As with any top guide, the country’s best wines must be presented. These have been selected by the Grand Prix du Vin Suisse (formerly known as the CNVS, a national competition).
The Grand Prix is a competition that took place in Sierre under the aegis of VINEA, in partnership with Vinum, the European wine review. Nearly 2,000 wines from throughout
Switzerland were presented in June 2008. The judges awarded medals to 584 wines in 11 categories: Chasselas, Riesling x Sylvaner, other single-grape white wines, white blends,
sweet wines, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Merlot, other red grape varieties, red blends and rosés. The six finalist wines in each of the 11 categories are competing for the winners’
trophies. The awards will be announced 7 November at the gala event, the Swiss Wine Night. The winners as well as the complete list of wines given awards are included in the
Swiss Wine Guide. (2)
Ringier and VINEA, a joint publishing project
The book was edited by Emeline Zufferey and Eva Zwahlen. Its attractive presentation and lively approach are the result of Ringier Romandie’s publishing expertise,
and contributed significantly to easing a complex editorial task. The book is published in three languages, French, German and English (which replaces the Italian edition).
The English version was adapted by Ellen Wallace of Zidao Communication in St-Prex.
The book, with a print run of 14,000 copies, is a true encyclopedia of Swiss wines, a powerful communications tool for winesellers and winelovers alike, who at last have
a guide to help them make their choices.
It is distributed by Ringier Romandie : see details below.
VINEA
For further information, contact :
Competition and editorial content of the book
VINEA offices
Ms Elisabeth Pasquier
e-mail : info@vinea.ch
Tél. : + 41 27 456 31 44
Fax : + 41 27 456 21 44
Distribution and marketing for the book
Ringier Romandie
Marketing
Ms Géraldine Nicole
e-mail : geraldine.nicole@ringier.ch
Tél. : + 41 21 331 72 56
Fax : + 41 21 331 70 01
Details: Swiss Wine Guide 2009-2010, 474 pages, Ringier
Retail price: Fr. 39.00
Available starting 8 November 2008 in bookstores and at Naville points of sale.
To order :
Ringier Romandie, customer service : 0848 48 48 07 (normal rate)
Or by e-mail : guide.vins@ringier.ch
www.guide-des-vins-suisses,ch
(2) The list of winners and of all wines given gold and silver awards will be available on the Internet sites Saturday 8 November 2008 :
www.grandprixduvinsuisse.ch and
www.vinea.ch
VINEA archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
