Saturday 12th July 2025 • Promotional Content
T e Travel Guide 15 Surprising Switzerland: Zurich’s wine region
Wander through the hidden vines in the centre of the lively city and beautiful vineyards on Lake Zurich and discover family-run wineries, traditional hotels and an innovative culinary scene
A
t the foot of the Swiss Alps, Lake Zurich spreads out like a deep-blue silk sheet. Romans
fi rst planted wine on these shores two millennia ago — a practice that’s been upheld by families for gener- ations. Locals have long treasured these traditions and word is slowly spreading as the wineries up their creativity and sustainability eff orts. But the most beautiful vineyards in the city continue to remain well-hidden, allowing the grapes to thrive during summer before being harvested and made into wine in autumn. Here’s how to experience the best of
its wine scene.
Where to go Vines climb the slopes around Lake Zurich, as well as in the middle of the city. For a primer, stop by the Lake Zurich Wine Growing Museum (open Sunday 2pm-4pm), where you can brush up on your knowledge of grape varieties and join a guided tour. T e Landolt vineyard at Enge is the largest wine producer in town, where the grapes soak up the sun in peace in summer before they’re harvested in the fall. Terraced vineyards stagger scenically above the lake at Bachmann
Winery in Stäfa, run with plenty of passion and innovation by the young vintner couple, T eres and Jonathan Bachmann. T e lake, mountain and reserve wines are right up there with the region’s fi nest. Rapperswil —otherwise known as the Town of Roses — also deserves a visit, and the best way to do so is via boat. T e town earned its name from the thousands of roses that bloom in the gardens between May and October, and those who don’t have time for a boat trip can also visit by train. In a beautiful spot on the lake in Küsnacht, Diederik Winery is equally unmissable. T e winery hosts Saturday wine-tastings, summertime open wine cellar days and DJ + Wine — a festival set among the vines. If
you can squeeze in another
tasting, visit Kümin in Freienbach, a fourth-generation winery that’s been popping corks since 1902. From late August to early September, it hosts Feast in the Distillery, pairing wines with smoked pork and saff ron risotto.
Where to dine All that wine-tasting piques the appe- tite, and Lake Zurich is home to some
of Switzerland’s best restaurants. If you fancy a taste of la dolce vita, head for Portofi no on T alwil harbour, where you can glide up via boat and delight in classic Italian cuisine with sweeping lake views. For dreamy seafood, swing over to L’O, directly on the waterfront in Horgen, where the wines are sourced from local vineyards. Or snag a terrace table at Fischer’s Fritz in Zurich for front-row views of the lake as you dig into crispy beer-battered whitefi sh. For those eager to continue their wine-tasting adventures, Hundertwein, located in the Old Town, and 169 West at the Weststrasse, each have an incredible selection, the former comprising of 100 bottles.
Where to stay Wake up to views of the lake through the fl oor-to-ceiling windows of your sunlit room or suite at Alex Lake Zurich in T alwil. T e fi ve-star boutique hotel has a spa and health club with a lake-facing pool, hammam and heated loungers, a sophisticated bar and a restaurant hovering right above the water. Alternatively, book the Baur au Lac,
where the Sommelier curates wine lists from over 14 countries, together with over 300 winemakers.
Plan your trip Swiss off ers direct fl ights to Zurich from several UK cities, including London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Alternatively, take the Eurostar to Paris and connect to a high-speed TGV to Zurich. T e Zürich Card also includes all forms of public transpor- tation as well as museum entrances and various discounts. S-Bahn trains also link Zurich to major towns on the lake, but you might fi nd it quicker, scenic and more fun to take one of the ZSG boats.
For more information, visit
zuerich.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
