On the road to Burgundy

The Neuchâtel vineyard stretches along the length of the lake of the same name before joining the banks of another lake, Bienne. This proximity reduces the harshness of the winter and promotes vine development on the riverside hills which benefit from the presence of the Jura mountains, which ward off wind and rain coming from France. In contrast to the other French speaking Swiss cantons, Neuchâtel has only one wine growing region which stretches, with a few interruptions, from Vaumarcus upto Landeron.

Geographically near Burgundy, the Neuchâtel canton authorizes only one type of red vine in its legislation on the Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée. As in the large French wine-growing region, only the Pinot Noir is considered to be worthy of the Neuchâtelois wines. This dominance gave birth to a speciality that attracted a considerable following in the other French speaking Swiss regions: the Oeil-de-Perdrix. A rosé, discovered by chance in Auvernier in the middle of the 20th century, that has conquered hearts and palates far from its historical birthplace.