More Swiss wine served at Swiss representations abroad

Grapes in canton Ticino are used to produce one of the wines being drunk in increasing amounts at official Swiss events abroad Keystone

The number of bottles of Swiss wine served at events organised by Swiss representations abroad more than tripled in two years, after the foreign ministry amended its procurement procedures to promote Swiss wines in 2013, the ministry announced.

The number of cartons of Swiss wine sent to embassies abroad increased from 2,926 in 2012 to 8,555 in 2014. With the new procedures, the foreign ministry now supports the cost of transporting the wine, as well as financing the wine at the time of purchase rather than at the time of consumption.

The change in policy evolved from motions presented in the House of Representatives by Christophe Darbellay of the centrist Christian Democratic Party and in the Senate by Thomas Hurter of the conservative right Swiss People’s Party. Darbellay’s original proposal stated that diplomatic representations abroad would be “required to serve Swiss wine exclusively”. This was amended in the Senate to “encourage the serving of Swiss products”.

Embassies can order from among a wide range of wines representing all wine regions in Switzerland.