Saint-Leonard is a wine appellation of western Switzerland, covering the western edge of the Sierre District in central Valais. It is centered around the village of the same name, which, despite a population of only 2000, is one of the key conurbations in the district. The Lienne river which runs through the village marks the boundary between Sierre and its neighboring district Sion; west of this point the land is covered by the Uvrier appellation. Other than its wine, Saint-Leonard is known for its underground lake (the largest in Europe, with a navigable surface area of 6000 square meters).
The soils around Saint-Leonard, 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 here, and are kept relatively dry by the rain-shadow cast by the peaks above.
A typical Saint-Leonard 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.
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 like Saint-Leonard will become more readily available and more widely recognized.
