What I Learned:
The Ticino canton ranks as the fourth most important wine growing canton in Switzerland. Wine production in this area can be dated to the Roman era. Some of the older varietals formerly grown in this area, such as the Freisa, Paganona, and Rossera, were devastated by the phylloxera parasite which arrived in the Ticino around 1893.
This area is now famed for its Merlot grapes. These were primarily introduced at the beginning of last century, after, and in response to, the phylloxera epidemic. They are grown in about 1000 hectares of this canton. Merlot buds rather later in the spring compared to some other varietals, and its harvest in this area occurs at the end of September or beginning of October. From these grapes, its vintners produce a red wine version, aged in oak or steel, and a unique white wine version. Look for “Merlot Vinificato in Bianco.” Approximately 85% of all wine production in this canton is Merlot.
Chardonnay is the most grown white varietal here. The Chardonnay grapes blended with Merlot grapes, vinified as white Merlot, produce a delicious Chardonnay-Merlot blended white wine.
Other notable varietals include a local varietal known as Bondola, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and the white varietal Chasselas.
The quality hierarchy ranges from DOC wines, to table wines (vino da tavola), also known locally as “nostrano” wine. I also saw a category known as IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), presumably for wines not quite (or not yet) recognized as DOC status, certainly of higher quality than the simplest “vino rosso” or “vino bianco” wines.
What I Tasted:
2014 Bianco, Parravicini, Bianco della Svizzera Italiana IGT: a dry, blended white wine (Merlot vinified as a white wine and Chardonnay), with a light gold color; a dry white wine with pale gold color; light citrus and green apple flavors, and just a hint of vanilla and pineapple, with medium high acidity.
2013 Merlot vinified as a white wine, Contrada, DOC Ticino, Brivio Vini: a dry white wine with pale gold color; slightly sweet floral and herbaceous nose, herbaceous flavors with a hint of smokiness; medium-high acidity; minerality comes through in this well-structured wine.
2011 Merlot, Pedrinate, DOC Ticino: a dry red wine, with dark red-purple color, slightly peppery flavors, with ripe, Bing cherries, hints of slight smoke and wood; mild tannins, very smooth overall.