Although at the surface level Lucerne and the other cantons of Central Switzerland are part of the small wine-growing districts, their wines are recognized as high quality specialties.

The total area of vineyards in Central Switzerland is around 100 hectares. In recent years it has increased steadily. As a result and besides the cantons of Zug and Schwyz, also the two half-cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden as well as the canton of Uri, can today pride themselves on being wine districts.

The climate is usually quite mild and often influenced by the foehn winds. Soils are of diverse nature. Their composition depends on the region and it can sometimes vary a lot within a distance of a few meters only.

Canton of Lucerne

In the four wine-growing regions of the canton of Lucerne, the Seetal (the largest), Lake Lucerne, Lake Sempach and Wiggertal, mainly Pinot Noir and Müller-Thurgau grapes are cultivated. Around the lakes, the parcels on the steep slopes exposed to the south benefit from a particularly favorable microclimate, often influenced by the foehn winds.

Canton of Zug

The municipality of Walchwil is climatically one of the warmest in Central Switzerland. From this favorable climatic conditions profit the vineyard “Aescher Rebberg” as well as all the smaller vineyards in the surrounding area such as Hünenberg and Cham.

However, the largest vineyard in the canton of Zug is located in Risch on the hill Niggelbühl. The white grape variety Solaris and the red Léon Millot and Maréchal Foch, all hybrid crosses resistant to mildew and powdery mildew, are planted on an area of around 700m2.

Canton of Uri

The first mention of viticultre in the canton of Uri dates back to 1248. Today, five vine producers cultivate some five hectares of vineyards, located mainly in the municipalities of Altdorf, Bürglen and Silenen. The warm spring and the sunny late summer together with the foehn winds allow to produce wines of excellent quality.

Canton of Schwyz

The vineyards of the canton of Schwyz are mainly found towards lake Zurich, for example in the municipalities of Freienbach, Altendorf, Wangen or Einsiedeln. The only vineyards that are oriented towards Central Switzerland are located in Immensee / Küssnacht. In the area of Leutschen, which is part of the political district of Freienbach, are located the vineyards of the monastery Einsiedeln. Theses vineyards were bought by the convent in 1562 and comprise about 8 hectares.

Half-cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden

In Obwalden old place names, such as “Wiibärgli” or “Rebstock”, attest that wine-growing was laready practiced in ancient times in the lush valley of the river Aa.

In the canton of Nidwalden, on the southern slopes of the Birgenberg, there is a confidential viticulture barely known, because the excellent wines produced there are available in very limited quantities only.