Leuk (Leoche to French speakers) is a Swiss wine appellation of the eastern Valais, centered around the small town which is the administrative center of the Leuk district. Leuk town occupies a pivotal position in the Valais, marking the point at which the Rhone river changes course from due west to south-west, altering the path of the valley and the resulting aspect of its vineyards.
© Wikimedia/Nesti-stuedi
At this altitude (more than 2600ft/790m), sunshine and warmth are vital commodities for any vineyard intended as a source of quality wine, so this small change in the river's course is significant. Leuk effectively signals the transition between the prolific carpets of south-facing vineyards in central Valais and the start of the much more fragmented, opportunistic vineyards of the eastern Valais.
The white varieties which might be found in a Leuk vineyard are Chasselas, Chardonnay, Sylvaner (known here as Johannisberg), Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Their red counterparts – Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin, Humagne Rouge and Syrah – are increasingly widespread, as is the case across Switzerland.
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 Leuk is one.
