Zurich

Zurich is a wine region located northeast of Switzerland, with Zurich as its capital. The region has a long history of viticulture, dating back to the 9th century when Benedictine monks established vineyards on the Rhine island of Rheinau.

At its peak in the late 19th century, Zurich had over 20,000 winegrowers cultivating 5,600 hectares of vines. However, the region was heavily impacted by phylloxera, migration, industrialization, and urbanization, which led to a significant decline in viticulture.

Today, Zurich's vineyards cover only 644 hectares of vines, but they still produce high-quality wines that are part of the wine region of German-speaking Switzerland. Zurich is divided into five areas, each with over 90 municipalities, and is home to several grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, Riesling-Sylvaner, and Müller-Thurgau.

Pinot Mariafeld, a special clone of Pinot Noir, is also cultivated in the region and originates from the village of Stäfa on Lake Zurich. Other red varieties grown in Zurich include Gamaret, Garanoir, and Dornfelder.