Geneva, at the western end of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), is the second-largest city in Switzerland. Although not famously associated with wine, the city and its environs are home to numerous vineyards and wineries, some within just a few miles of the center. In 2013, the official Geneva wine region was home to about 3200 acres (1300ha) of vines.
Genevan wines are produced in all three colors and various styles – still, sweet and sparkling. The red-wine grapes of choice here are Gamay, Pinot Noir but Gamaret and Garanoir – two dark-skinned crossings designed specifically for Switzerland – are also popular. Bordeaux classics Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc also have a small representation. Perhaps the most unexpected addition to this list is Zinfandel, grown here by the Domaine du Paradis. (© Wine-Searcher)
The local white wines have traditionally been led by Chardonnay, Aligoté, and of course Chasselas. Crisp, grass-scented Sauvignon Blanc – boosted by its overseas success in New Zealand – is now increasingly fashionable. Also found in the vineyards here are Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and the Swiss-German classic Muller-Thurgau.
The vineyards around Geneva are separated into three officially named areas: Entre Arve et Lac to the east, Entre Arve et Rhone to the south and Mandement to the west. Mandement is the largest of these, with its main concentration of vines being just west of Satigny town, around the villages of Peissy and Choully.
The climate in Geneva is moderated significantly by the presence of the lake, which prevents summer temperatures from rising dramatically and slows the effects of frost and snow in winter. This makes Geneva one of the warmest viticultural areas of Switzerland (topped only by Ticino). The region has moderate rainfall – around 39 inches (1000mm) per year – but by a quirk of the alpine topography the slopes above Montreux, just across the lake, are some of the wettest areas of the country. Such is the impact of Lake Geneva that many shoreline vineyards escape the risk of frost entirely – not just because of its temperature-moderating effects, but also due to the high levels of light reflected from its surface.
The land here is flatter than in the Vaud or Valais, lying at 1200 to 1500ft (365–460m) above sea level. Considering its location – sandwiched between the Jura Mountains and the Western Alps at the end of Lake Geneva (which is ultimately filled by the sediment-bearing waters of the Rhone Glacier) – it is not surprising that the region contains some interesting geology. A combination of younger alluvial soils and older igneous and metamorphic rocks is present, the exact distribution of which depends on the topography and altitude of each vineyard site.
As it approaches the city, Lake Geneva narrows into a point, creating a kind of harbor. Beyond this the waters flow through the city, and become the Rhone river once again. The Rhone flows into the lake at its eastern edge, among the vineyards of Chablais. Once past Geneva, it begins its relatively steep ascent past the western vineyards of Savoie, en route to Lyon and the French Rhone Valley.
