Even better than visiting a beautiful castle or winery is visiting a beautiful castle winery. Switzerland has a surprising number to choose from. Here are some of the most enchanting Swiss castles where visitors can enjoy a special wine experience. Switzerland’s top castle winery experiences will leave you with an unforgettable taste of the country’s fine wines.
Vufflens Castle
The impressive Vufflens Castle in the Canton of Vaud was once the residence of former racing car driver Michael Schumacher. With a long history involving mysteries and robberies, the castle is now owned by the Saussure family. Eight hectares of vineyards surround the fortress, and the wine is produced in the castle’s cellars by the House of Bolle. While the castle itself is not open to the public, visitors can walk the through the vineyards and courtyard. Vufflens Castle is 45 minutes by train from Lausanne or one hour from Geneva.
Winery Schloss Salenegg
One hour by train from Zurich, Maienfeld is not just the setting for Johanna Spyri’s Heidi, it’s also the location of one of Europe’s oldest wineries.The Winery Schloss Salenegg in the Canton of Graubünden dates back to 950AD. Owned by the von Gugelberg family, the estate blends traditional wine making processes with modern methods. Their Pinot Noir, for example, is fermented for 10 days in steel tanks before being transferred to traditional wooden barrels to develop character.
Château du Crest
Château du Crest (or Crest Castle) is the only wine-producing château on the left bank of Lake Geneva. The old tradition of viticulture was revived in this region just 10 years ago. Visitors can enjoy the sprawling 15 hectares of vineyards and a variety of wines, from Chasselas to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Located in the Canton of Geneva, Château Du Crest is just under one hour from Geneva city by train and bus.
Château de Villa
Offering specialities from the Valais region, Château de Villa enables visitors to taste wine produced by more than 110 of the region’s wine producers. Wine enthusiasts can sign up for seasonally themed wine seminars to learn more about the local produce. The château is about 1½ hours by train from Lausanne and 2¼ hours from Geneva.
Reichenau Castle
Boasting a spectacular setting on the confluence of the Upper and Lower Rhine, the historic Reichenau Castle is today a working winery used by the Tscharner family. Dating back to the 17th century, the estate also has an impressive garden. Just under 2 hours by train from Zurich, the recommended way to experience Reichenau Castle is with a guided tour led by Gian-Battista von Tscharner, followed by a wine tasting.
Castello Luigi
In 1998, Luigi Zanini bought the old farmstead that was later transformed into Castello Luigi. Situated in the Canton of Ticino, the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, it takes under one hour via a train and short bus ride to get there from Lugano. Over the years, the vineyards have been extended to cover an area of just over 125,000 sqm. Luigi built a 18.5 metre deep spiral cellar under the vineyard, ensuring all vinification work is carried out by gravity alone.
See here for more Swiss castle wineries. For more information on Switzerland in general, visit MySwitzerland.com; and MySwitzerland.com/rail for the Swiss Travel Pass.
Photos and information supplied by Three Wise Bees and Switzerland Tourism. This is not a sponsored post; we’re simply happy to spread the word about these beautiful wineries.
