The framework essay argues that nine wine regions across three countries form a single category, Alpine wine, whose shared identity has long been obscured by national borders.

Chablais covers the Rhône valley vineyards upstream of Lake Geneva, where Chasselas grows on limestone scree. Its name recalls a medieval duchy that spanned both shores.

Valais is Switzerland’s largest and driest wine region. Glacier-fed 'bisses' have long watered its steep vineyards, planted with indigenous varieties such as Petite Arvine and Cornalin.

Graubünden has four wine landscapes. In the Bündner Herrschaft, the warm Föhn wind ripens Pinot Noir and the rare Completer, first recorded at Malans in 1321.

Ticino is Switzerland’s Italian-speaking wine region. Merlot, introduced in 1906 after phylloxera, now dominates, with different soils north and south of Monte Ceneri shaping two styles.

Valtellina in Lombardy grows Nebbiolo, locally called Chiavennasca, on some 2,500 kilometres of dry-stone terraces. The valley was under Swiss rule for nearly three centuries.

Alto Adige / Südtirol is a German- and Italian-speaking region around Bolzano, known for Lagrein and Schiava. Gewürztraminer takes its name from Tramin, one of its villages.

Trentino is the Alpine arc’s largest wine region, its climate softened by Lake Garda. Teroldego dominates the Campo Rotaliano, and Nosiola makes Vino Santo.