Bernune is a wine appellation of western Switzerland, covering the hillside vineyards immediately above Sierre in central Valais. The soils here, as all along the Valais, are a medley of schistous, gravelly, glacial deposits – free-draining and rich in minerals brought down from the peaks above. The vines are blessed with a south-easterly aspect, helping them to make the most of the intense alpine sunlight, and are kept relatively dry by the rain-shadow cast by the peaks above.
A typical Bernune wine might be a varietal (although blends are by no means unusual) made from Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin or Humagne Rouge for reds and Chasselas, Sylvaner, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris for whites.
The Swiss wine industry lacked a formalized appellation system until the late 1980s, but now a comprehensive structure is in place. In the nation's three official languages, the classification is variously entitled Appellation d'Origine Controlle (AOC), Geographische Ursprungbezeichnung (GUB) and Denominazione d'Origine Controllata (DOC).
More than 650 appellations now cover the villages and vineyards of Switzerland, of which this is one. As Switzerland continues to pursue and develop export markets for its wines, Swiss wine from appellations such as Bernune will become more readily available and more widely recognized.
