Both wine amateurs and wine professionals consider Decanter to be one of the leading publications in the world of wine. For the past 16 years it has run the largest of all global wine competitions: The Decanter World Wine Awards, which received over 16,500 entries this year.

The 237 judges include numerous Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers as well as many other recognized wine experts. The judging process itself is rigorous and ensures repeated tasting of the award winners.

The panel assessing the wines of Switzerland was chaired by Paolo Basso, who hardly needs an introduction as a previous Best Sommelier of the World in 2013. Now a leading international ambassador for Swiss wines he is also active as a wine trader, wine consultant and, most recently, a wine producer in his own right in the Ticino.

Swiss wines win Platinum awards

Congratulations are due to the three wines from Switzerland awarded Platinum status. Platinum winners, of which there were only 148 in all, are considered the best wines in their region and are tasted at least four times over two weeks before achieving this status.

WHITE: Adrian & Diego Mathier Nouveau Salquenen (Valais) - L'Ambassadeur des Domaines Diego Mathier 2016(65% Païen, 25% Petit Arvine, 10% Marsanne)

RED: Domaines Chevaliers (Valais) - Lux Vina Neyrun Cornalin 2016 (100% Cornalin)

SWEET: Gregor Kuonen Caveau de Salquenen (Valais) - Grandmaître Malvoisie Flétrie 2017 (100% Pinot Gris)

Switzerland’s Gold medal winners

A further eight Swiss wines won Gold medals (out of 480 in total), having been tasted three times. Decanter defines Gold as ‘an excellent wine of great complexity and character’.

WHITE: Adrian & Diego Mathier Nouveau Salquenen (Valais) - Ambassadeur des Domaines Diego Mathier 2017(60% Païen, 30% Petit Arvine, 10% Marsanne)

WHITE: Albert Mathier & Fils (Valais) - Vinum Lignum Rein Riesling 2017 (100% Riesling) 

WHITE: Gregor Kuonen Caveau de Salquenen (Valais) - Nuit Blanche Grandmaître 2017 (100% Pinot Noir)

WHITE: Provins (Valais) - Grand Métral Petite Arvine 2017 (100% Petit Arvine)

RED: Cantina Monti (Ticino) - Malcantone Rosso dei Ronchi 2016 (70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Carminoir)

RED: Gialdi Vini Brivio (Ticino) - Riflessi d'Epoca Merlot 2016 (100% Merlot)

RED: Verein Syydebändel (German Swiss) - Pinot Noir Barrique 2016 (100% Pinot Noir)

SWEET: Domaine du Mont d’Or (Valais) - Saint-Martin Johannisberg 2014 (100% Sylvaner)

Overall, these outstanding wines demonstrate that Swiss producers can compete across a range of styles with the very best in the world.