Meet the Swiss wine importer, Joelle Nebbe, founder of Alpine Wines
SWISS-born Joëlle Nebbe is celebrating 13-years of bringing wines from the Alps to the UK market.
It began with: “Why aren’t these wines available in the UK.” Now, a major importer of Swiss wines and a specialist in wines from the Alps, Joëlle has made Yorkshire, in particular Bradford, her home since 2005.
This year’s celebrations for Yorkshire Day will mainly take place around Ilkley and Bradford, with the latter being the City of Culture 2025.
More than 5.5m people live and work in Yorkshire and, according to Visit Britain, more than 80 million day-trippers flocked to the region last year.
August 1 marks both Yorkshire Day and Swiss National Day
Yorkshire Day celebrates the culture, heritage, and pride of England’s largest historic county. It originated in 1975 as a protest against local government reorganisation, but now it’s a full-blown celebration of Yorkshire identity.
According to VisitBradford, this year’s highlights include Ilkley’s civic procession and the bells of Bradford City Hall ringing out the iconic tune of ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht and a month-long film festival celebrating Yorkshire.
Bradford is a UNESCO City of Film, home to the Saltaire World Heritage Site, and Haworth is its literary village.
In Switzerland, August 1 commemorates the Federal Charter of 1291, when the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden pledged mutual support. It is considered to be the symbolic birth of Switzerland. It is celebrated with bonfires, fireworks, lantern parades, and special bread rolls called Augustweggen.
The Hebden Bridge circular walk is nicknamed the ‘Switzerland of Yorkshire’ for its dramatic valleys and alpine-like views.
Innovation in Hebden Bridge Mill, West Yorkshire, not only used to celebrate Yorkshire Day in style with a feast of Yorkshire pudding with beef, or a Ploughmen with Yorkshire cheese and Yorkshire Pork Pies but in days gone by, the Yorkshire Swiss Club also celebrated Swiss Day with festivities taking place in the town.
Alpines Wines
Alpine Wines has grown to become the go to destination for a huge selection of Swiss wines in the UK. Swiss winemakers traditionally sell all their wines in Switzerland, with very little left over for the export market.
Just like other Swiss products – watches to chocolate – the wines are of quality. This is not the land of bulk wine.
“Switzerland is a place where small producers make individually, well-crafted wines that go supremely well with food and the production of cheese is never too far away.”
Just as UK consumers have taken a penchant to Swiss cheeses, thanks to Joëlle’s relentless dedication to Swiss wines, UK consumers are beginning to understand their quality and know they should be tried.
Swiss Wine Regions
Valais
Located in the mountainous southwestern corner of Switzerland, Valais was an island between mountains, until the arrival of railroads. It was part of Savoy then joined Switzerland.
Valais follows the Rhône upstream and is the most alpine of the regions. The steep slopes of the mountains are terraced with centuries-old stone walls, each planted with just a few rows of vines.
Narrow roads snake upwards to reach isolated villages that eventually disappear into forest and, right at the top cable cars head to the ski slopes.
In winter this is a skier’s paradise, whilst in summer the area is full of walkers, navigating the hills and following the irrigation channels known as bisses.
Valais is by far the largest wine producing region in Switzerland.
Valais’ isolation has meant that rare indigenous red and white grape varieties have survived. They have exotic names such as: Humagne Blanche, Petite Arvine, Amigne, Gwäss, and Eyholzer Roter grape.
- Diolinoir, (a cross between Rouge de Diolly and Pinot Noir) and Rouge du Pays/Cornalin are less known red varieties rarely seen outside of Valais.
- Chasselas is still the most planted white, and Pinot Noir is now the most widely planted red grape in the region. The Pinot is blended with Gamay to make the classic Dôle.
Joëlle’s tip: If you want to be surprised, try the crunchy Syrah classique from Domaine des Muses. It’s unoaked with a bit of age, an expression of Syrah not often found. It will be fantastic with soft and washed cheeses, like Brie or Camembert, Jumi’s la Bouse and Kaeseswiss Dzorette. In Valais they would have a raclette style cheese from one of the summer alps.
Vaud
The main regions for grape growing lie in a sweep across the western and southern regions of the country. Vaud with its gently rising, south-facing land overlooks Lake Geneva. This massive body of water has a direct effect on the climate, making winters shorter and summers longer.
The classic Vaud wine style is crisp, fresh Chasselas, although the precise aromas and flavours vary depending on the soil type in which it is grown.
Tasting Chasselas in the different parts of Vaud is an adventure by itself. The fresh and fruity white grape is particularly sensitive to the character of the soil it finds itself in. You can learn to recognise areas and even villages in the glass.
In La Côte the wines tend towards floral rather than mineral notes, while a combination of flowers and stones come through in the best and most complex wines from the central Lavaux.
Although white wines may outnumber and overshadow all others in the Vaud, there are still some high-quality reds, predominantly from Pinot Noir and Gamay, but also from the blending of Gamaret and Garanoir.
The Lavaux (subregion of Vaud)
Extending from Lausanne to Vevey-Montreux overlooking Lake Geneva. It is home to breathtaking terraced vineyards and, in 2007, were the first vineyards to obtain UNESCO world heritage status.
Vineyards in this area are documented all the way back to year 900 AD. Lavaux is also the home of Dézaley (where Chasselas grape is said to be at its best).
Its terraces cling to the abrupt slopes between Epesses and St Saphorin, which overhang the Lake. Lavaux covers around 21% of the Vaud and has some very important appellations, Dézaley being one and St. Saphorin the other.
Joëlle tip: Treat yourself to the Dézaley Chemin de Fer, accessible following a railway line that cuts through the vineyard. It is one of the most intense expressions of Chasselas. This is one that has many celebrity customers.
The Lavaux is right below Gruyères so it is the natural match. Try with Gruyère, alpine-style cheese, or raclette (un-melted). For a Yorkshire day treat, Courtyard Dairy in North Yorkshire has a limited-edition Summer Field Alpine cheese, made near Whitby.
Chablais
Chablais is a subregion of Vaud and Valais, the gateway to the Valais. The eastern part of the basin of Lake of Geneva, the part within the Alps before the ‘lock’ at St Maurice. It is below the Vaud ski resorts and the Valais Portes du Soleil.
The vineyards stretch out on the right bank of the Rhône as far as Bex, through the delightful towns of Yvorne and Aigle. Chablais has 15% of the Vaud’s grapevines and here you’ll find the famous Aigle area.
Joëlle tip: It has to be the Chasselas Les Murailles, one of Switzerland most recognised wines, often known as the ‘lizard wine.’ Chasselas is the definitive wine for cheese, so this will go with everything. Especially with Gruyère and melted / grilled cheese.
La Côte
“La Côte is a subregion of Vaud and it is where I grew up.”
La Côte is the stretch of the northern shores of Lake Geneva, nestling between the city of Geneva in the west, the suburbs of Lausanne to the east and the Jura to the north. This is a charming region with neat villages, stunning castles, and of course the ever-present expanse of Lake Geneva and the Alps.
It’s the largest winegrowing region in the Canton de Vaud and is principally white wine country. Chasselas is still grown extensively here. Although red wines from Pinot Noir and Gamay and from the blending of Gamaret and Garanoir are created here.
La Côte is within easy reach of the cities of Geneva and Lausanne, offering country lanes, lovely villages, stunning castles, top restaurants and wine cellars.
“Everything is green, warm, cosy and pretty.”
Joëlle’s tip: For something more exotic, try Switzerland Doral, a very fruity exotic fruit white wine. It’s a sommelier favourite, full of flavour yet easy to pair with many foods. Especially lovely with cheeses made from ewe’s milk or goats, as well as smoked cheeses. Think Ribblesdale smoked goat. A classic cheese served in La Côte would be the tomme vaudoise, a small soft white rind cheese. You can sometimes find one in the UK, the tomme fleurette.
Neuchâtel
Four cantons and three lakes make up this small wine region in Switzerland. The vineyards stretch along the lake from Vaumarcus in the south, through Auvernier and as far as Neuchâtel and Cressier in the north.
The main red grape variety is Pinot Noir which produces excellent red wines, as well as the superb Oeil de Perdrix and fruity rosé. The main white remains Chasselas.
Neuchâtel is known as ‘watch valley’ with famous brands such as Tissot, Ulysse Nardin, Certina and Zenith from the towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. It is famous for its chocolates. Philippe Suchard opened Chocolat Suchard in Serrières, in 1826.
Joëlle tip: The rosé Oeil de Perdrix is the most famous rosé in Switzerland, perfect to compliment a starter or cheese board. The region is home to semi-hard cheese Britchon, runny Neuchâtel Tomme and blue (mould) Bleuchâtel.
Try the rosé (chilled not cold) from Domaine de Montmollin. Perfect with blue cheese. I love the Yorkshire blues from Shepherd Purse and Mario Olianas’ Leeds Blue. If you can find the iconic Swiss cheese Jersey Blue. Perfect!
Geneva
Geneva is Switzerland’s second largest city and Lake Geneva is Europe’s largest lake. It is located at the end of the lake, between Jura and the Alps. Wine production has gone on uninterrupted here for almost 2,000 years.
Geneva is probably the wettest part of Switzerland. Gamay is by far the most widely planted red variety, richer and smoother than Beaujolais with a little spiciness.
Joëlle tip: Try the small parcel of the Gamay les Romaines. Gamay is one of the best red wines for cheese, and shines with a soft but full flavoured goat’s cheese (Jumi Capriflocon) or any type of strong cheddar.
Eastern Switzerland: Aarau, Thurgau, Zürich, Schaffhausen, St Gallen & Graubünden
The Bündner Herrschaft, just south of Liechtenstein is one of the most important wine growing regions. The most famous vineyards are the communes of Maienfeld, Jenins, Malans and Fläsch.
Following the Rhine downstream would take you through St Gallen (alpine ski valley and ancient monasteries), Thurgau (rolling hills and castles), Schaffhausen (softer hills and the spectacular Rhine falls), Zurich (picturesque towns on the Rhine and a lake with a spectacular view) and Aarau.
Everywhere Pinot Noir reigns supreme, and you will find a diverse white wines led by Riesling and Sylvaner, plus two rare highly sought after native grapes: Completer and Räuschling
Joëlle tip: try the Räuschling from Mathias Bechtel. Räuschling is thought to have been one of the most planted grape varieties in medieval Europe. It has lively acidity, perfect for sharper English cheeses. It would also be beautiful with the heritage “Wensleydale as it used to be” Stonebeck or Yoredale cheeses or a good local cheddar.
Ticino
Ticino is only forty minutes by car from Milan airport. This region is Italian in style with Lake Lugano at its heart. Merlot is the grape of this region, and it makes soft, sweet-scented, rounded wines that are light enough in alcohol to balance charcuterie yet can accompany roast meat and even age for several years.
Joëlle tip: The Baiocco merlot is a great introduction, a crunchy style for warmer days that is excellent served chilled. Perfect with shavings of strong Alpkäse cheese, as well as with marinated fresh cheese, Yorkshire Pecorino.
If you want to be surprised, try the Merlot as a white – Terre Alte.
To buy the wines go to:
Yorkshire stockists:
Ripponden Wine Company.
Once Upon a Vine, Horsforth, Leeds.
For a selection of Yorkshire and Alpine cheeses:
Caldercheesehouse.co.uk (Halifax indoor market and a cheesemongers and deli in Todmorden).
