Cressier, le Landeron, Entre-deux-Lacs by ptitlouis

Distinguished Wine Region of Neuchâtel

Subdivided into three areas: “La Béroche”, from Vaumarcus to Bevaux, “The Coast”, from Cortaillod to Neuchâtel, and “Entre-deux-Lacs”, which lies between lake Bienne and lake Neuchâtel, the Neuchâtel wine region may not be the largest, but it has a long and distinguished history.

Everyone seems to agree on the year, 998, but not on the event. Whether it was when Count Rudolf of Neuchâtel made a gift of land to the Abbey Bevaix, or it’s the year the Abbey got its first permit to plant vineyards, but 998 is the year the monastery became the nucleus of viticulture in Neuchâtel.

Possibly because France was preoccupied by the Thirty Years War, the biggest area expansion was in the 17th century. Then from a peak in the 19th century, with 1200 hectare (ha) under grape cultivation, it dropped to 570 ha in the 1970’s. Today it is around 650 ha.

Principle white grapes are the Chasselas, Pinot gris and Chardonnay. Pinot noir holds up the red end. There is also the odd Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamaret, und Garanoir (GxR). Three specialities of Neuchâtel are: Oeil-de-Perdrix, Non Filtré, and Perdrix Blanche.