German-speaking Switzerland-Grison

Canton in the extreme east of Switzerland on the border with Austria. The vineyards cover 384 hectares and belong to the wine region of German-speaking Switzerland. Around 50 hectares of vineyards in the Misoxtal (Mesolcina), which politically belongs to Graubünden, belong to the wine-growing region of Ticino. The wine-growing communities in the northern "Bündner Herrschaft" area are Fläsch, Jenins Maienfeld and Malans (the well-known white wine Completer was already mentioned here in 1321). The climate is characterised by a lot of sunshine as well as by the southern Föhn wind blowing through the Rhine valley. This downdraft wind is characteristically called the "grape cooker" here because it favours the formation of sugar in the grapes. The majority (90%) of the wines produced are "Bündner Rheinweine". These are strong, alcohol-rich red wines made from Pinot Noir (also called Klevner or Chlävner here), which are mostly aged in barriques. Other varieties are Müller-Thurgau and Chardonnay. Well-known wine-growing villages are Chur (capital with Bischofsgut), Fläsch, Jenins, Maienfeld and Malans with the traditional dessert wine Completer.