Open Wine Cellars Switzerland 2026

The opening weekend. Over 210 wineries across the German-speaking cantons — Zurich, Aargau, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Graubünden, Basel, Lucerne, and the Lake Biel shores — launch the season simultaneously.

What to expect: This is the most geographically dispersed event. Rather than one concentrated wine village, you're choosing a sub-region and exploring its cluster. The Lake Biel stretch between Twann and La Neuveville is the most scenic — terraced vineyards dropping directly to the water.

Grapes to look for: Pinot Noir dominates red production across German-speaking Switzerland. Müller-Thurgau (Riesling × Sylvaner) is the signature white — light, floral, often underestimated. In Graubünden, look for Completer, an ancient white variety with remarkable aging potential. Schaffhausen's Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) from the Klettgau is some of the best in the country.

Pricing: Free entry at most individual wineries. Some sub-regions offer organized passes — check with your local tourism office.

Getting there: Each sub-region is independently accessible by public transport. The Lake Biel wine trail is walkable between cellars.

The big one. 230 cellars across Switzerland's largest wine region open for three days over the Ascension long weekend. This is the event that draws national attention.

What to expect: Valais produces a third of all Swiss wine. The vineyards climb the steep south-facing slopes of the Rhône valley — some of Europe's highest at 1,100 metres. The landscape alone is worth the trip. Many cellars are in historic villages like Salgesch, Sierre, Fully, and Chamoson where you can walk between a dozen producers in minutes.

Grapes to look for: This is where Swiss wine gets genuinely unique. Fendant (the local name for Chasselas) is the everyday white — bright, slightly sparkling, a perfect aperitif. Petite Arvine is the star: an indigenous variety grown almost nowhere else (99.7% of global plantings are in Valais), with notes of grapefruit, wisteria, and a saline finish. For reds, Cornalin is the flagship — dark, spicy, and exclusive to Valais. Humagne Rouge is rustic and iron-rich. Amigne, grown almost exclusively in Vétroz, produces whites ranging from dry to sweet. And then there's Heida (Savagnin Blanc), grown at altitude, producing concentrated, complex whites.

Pricing: Varies by producer. Some offer free tastings; many charge a modest fee redeemable against purchases. No unified pass.

The second Ticino weekend covers the Sottoceneri — the southern half around Lugano and Mendrisio. Same format, same grape (Merlot), different landscape: gentler hills, lake views, and the influence of the Italian border. The Mendrisiotto is considered by many to produce Ticino's most structured Merlots.

The grand finale. 260 winegrowers across Vaud's six wine regions close out the season. This is Switzerland's most photogenic wine event: the UNESCO-listed Lavaux terraces above Lake Geneva form the backdrop.

What to expect: The six regions — La Côte, Lavaux, Chablais, Vully, Bonvillars, and Côtes de l'Orbe — each have their own character. Lavaux is the headliner (steep terraces, lake views, medieval cellars), but La Côte offers quantity and easy access from Geneva, while Chablais around Aigle and Yvorne produces some of Switzerland's most structured whites.

Grapes to look for: Chasselas is king here — and nowhere else in the world is it taken as seriously as a single-varietal wine. The differences between a Chasselas from Lavaux (rich, mineral, long) and one from La Côte (lighter, floral, approachable) are striking. Vaud's Chasselas is not a "neutral" grape — it's a terroir transmitter. For reds, Pinot Noir and Gamay, often blended into Salvagnin (Vaud's equivalent of Dôle). Plant Robert is a local Gamay clone worth seeking out.

Pricing: CHF 40 online (includes tasting glass, Mobilis day pass for public transport across the canton both days, and a CHF 20 voucher redeemable for 6 bottles at participating wineries). Available at cellars on the day as well.