Its wine is its best-kept secret

Because only around 1% of Swiss wine is exported, the best and only time to taste a glass is on home land. Switzerland cultivates 240 grape types, the most common of which are pinot noir, chasselas, gamay, and merlot. Chasselas, or Fendant in the German-speaking half of the country, is an indigenous white grape that may be traced back to 12th century Monks and their terraced vines in Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Swiss wine can be found throughout the country, grouped into six distinct regions: Valais in the Alps, Vaud on Lake Geneva, Swiss-German, Geneva, Ticino on the Italian border, and the Three Lakes of the Jura mountain range. Pair a crisp glass of buttery chasselas with regional cheeses or – even better – a fondue to truly immerse yourself in the Swiss experience.