Vineyards Of Rapperswil-Jona

Wine growing around Lake Zurich is older than most visitors expect, and Rapperswil-Jona belongs to the northern and eastern end of that tradition. The sunny, south-facing slopes above the Obersee, the upper basin of the lake, have long been used for vines, and small vineyard plots still exist on the hillsides near the old town. They are modest in scale compared with the large wine regions of the Valais or Vaud, but they add a quiet, rural note to a town more often associated with Rapperswil Castle, roses and the lakefront.

The lake plays a practical role. Water holds heat, softens spring frosts and reflects extra light onto the slopes, so the shore of Lake Zurich has a mild microclimate for grapes. The typical varieties of eastern Switzerland are Müller-Thurgau, also called Riesling-Sylvaner, which gives light, fresh white wine, and Pinot Noir, known locally as Blauburgunder, which makes the main red. Both thrive in the cool climate, and wines from the Zurich region are mostly drunk locally, since production is small and rarely exported. Because most growers are small family producers, the best way to taste is at a local restaurant or wine shop, or when a grower opens the cellar for a tasting or festival.

The landscape is the reason to come. Paths run along and between the rows of vines, and from the slopes the view takes in the pitched roofs of the old town, the towers of Schloss Rapperswil, the long wooden footbridge to Hurden and, on a clear day, the Alps rising behind the lake. The vineyards look best in two seasons: in late summer, when the grapes ripen under the leaves, and in autumn, when the harvest begins and the leaves turn yellow and red. In winter, the bare vines and the low light give the hillside a different, quieter character. Spring brings fresh green shoots and blossom in the nearby orchards.

Take care to stay on marked paths, since the vineyards are working land and the vines are private property. Paths can be steep and wet after rain, and there are few facilities along the way, so bring water in summer. It is a short walk from the old town, which makes it easy to fit between a visit to the castle and a stroll along the quay.

A walk through the vineyards suits people who like a gentle, scenic outing with a rural flavour, photographers looking for views over the lake and old town, and anyone who wants to link a visit to Rapperswil-Jona with a taste of local wine. Combine it with a meal in the old town, where restaurants often list wines from the Zurich lake region.