Summary: 

Though Switzerland only exports 1-2% of its wines, this small country of approximately 8.5 million inhabitants has one of the richest vinous cultures of Europe. They also have the fourth highest wine consumption per capita in the world with approximately 40% of their bottles coming from their own country. Switzerland is truly a country of wine lovers.

This webinar will explore the diversity and beauty of Switzerland’s regions, its indigenous grapes and its unique grape crossings, developed especially to adapt to their climate, before delving into 4 distinctive regions – Valais, Vaud, Ticino and Graubünden.

Presenter: Robin Kick MW

Originally from the Chicago area, Robin is a Master of Wine who is presently based in Lugano, Switzerland, where she works as an independent wine consultant, wine judge, journalist and educator. 

Following studies in French and English literature, she changed career paths in 1998 when she left her teaching position at the Université de Nice to study wine at the BIVB (Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins de Bourgogne) in Beaune, France and the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse in France’s Rhône Valley.

In the 20+ years of working in the wine business, she has held a number of different positions including wine auction specialist for Christie’s in Beverly Hills, California and fine wine buyer for a pre-eminent London-based wine merchant with an award-winning Burgundy list. 

In 2014, after many years of study and a successful dissertation on whole cluster fermentation in Pinot Noir from the Côte d’Or, she became a Master of Wine. 

Her main wine passions are Burgundy, Champagne, northern Italy, particularly Piedmont, Switzerland and Jerez.