Vetroz is a Swiss wine appellation in western Switzerland, its catchment area covering the village of the same name in the central Valais. Most red Vetroz wine is varietal, made from Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin, Humagne Rouge or Syrah. The whites are predominantly Amigne, Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris.
The village itself is located at an altitude of 1600ft (485m) and its main vineyards blanket the hillside above, merging with those of Magnot to the west and Conthey to the east.
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). The different names and corresponding acronyms are evidence of Switzerland's multi-lingualism.
More than 650 appellations now cover the villages and vineyards of Switzerland, of which Vetroz is one. Most are named after the single commune they cover, while others denote multiple communes or even smaller areas within those communes. A small number of Swiss appellations cover an entire region, focusing on a particular grape variety or representative wine style; Chasselas Vaudois is one example.
As Switzerland continues to pursue and develop export markets for its wines – for a long time sold only through domestic channels – Swiss wine from appellations such as Vetroz will become more readily available and more widely recognized.
