![\"Swiss](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chesa_1-640x427.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBordeaux and Burgundy tend to dominate wine lists in Hong Kong, but sommeliers across the city are quietly championing the diverse terroir and rising stars behind Swiss wines. Rebecca Lo finds out why.<\/p>\n
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The dining room of fine dining French restaurant T\u00e9 Bo in Hong Kong\u2019s Quarry Bay neighbourhood was no stranger to pairing dinners since it opened in late 2024. Yet the evening of 20 April marked a special occasion: the inaugural visit of Raffaella Gialdi from Swiss winery Gialdi Vini.<\/p>\n
As part of the fourth generation of Gialdi Vini, which was established by Guglielmo Gialdi in 1953, she works alongside her father Feliciano Gialdi in the family-owned Mendrisio, Ticino estate west of Lake Como.<\/p>\n
T\u00e9 Bo\u2019s sommelier Stanka Luksic brainstormed with chef Sebastian Lorenzi to pair rich dishes such as local yellow chicken with the estate\u2019s full bodied Brivio Riflessi d\u2019Epoca Merlot 2021 and Brivio Platnium Merlot 2019. Ravioli featuring Hokkaido scallop in a roasted fish sauce was paired with Brivio Baiocco Merlot 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe old rule that red wine shouldn\u2019t be paired with seafood is not applicable here,\u201d Luksic said. \u201cIn fact, the soft and juicy tannins of the Merlots worked really well with the dish and white meats like our yellow chicken.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Our list keeps growing\u2019<\/p>\n
Luksic began introducing Swiss wines to showcase Lorenzi\u2019s heritage as a Hong Kong native of Swiss and Filipino descent; and he has since grown to become an advocate.<\/p>\n
\u201cSwiss wine is not mainstream in Hong Kong,\u201d he noted. \u201cWe currently have 20 Swiss references out of 250 in total. But our list keeps growing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline Frey is a Swiss winemaker that Luksic champions, with her Arvine Vin de France 2020 a personal favourite: \u201cThe Petite Arvine grape is typically grown in Valais, Switzerland but she cultivated the grape on the granite soils of Condrieu in the Rh\u00f4ne Valley. I find it one of the most beautiful expressions of Petite Arvine, representing the gentle, feminine character of its maker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luksic sources primarily from importer and distributor The Swiss Wine Store. Originally from Switzerland, its founder Damien Fleury has represented Swiss wines in Hong Kong since 2012. Today, his portfolio includes 25 producers and represents one of the most comprehensive offerings of Swiss references in the region.<\/p>\n
![\"Swiss](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Stanko-Damien-Raffaella-and-Te-Bo-manager-Francois-Ferrand-640x360.jpeg\")
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An uphill battle<\/p>\n
Fleury acknowledged that it was an uphill climb at first, as most people he encountered were unaware that Switzerland produced wine despite its winemaking history dating to the pre-Roman era.<\/p>\n
Another hurdle he faced was availability. \u201cOnly one percent of Swiss wines are exported,\u201d Fleury stated. \u201cSwitzerland is in a unique position because it has no need to export. Plus, the country\u2019s wines have a reputation for being expensive as they cost more to produce. The Swiss minimum wage, for example, is three times that of Italy or France.\u201d<\/p>\n
With contemporary producers such as Gialdi and Frey altering the Swiss wine landscape with integrated biodynamic practices, Fleury\u2019s offerings include younger estates that complement established ones. His wholesale bottle prices for on-trade start at HK$200 (\u00a318.86) for Swiss whites and HK$260 (\u00a324.52) for Swiss reds.<\/p>\n
Increasingly curious consumers<\/p>\n
Since the pandemic, Fleury has shifted from predominantly private customers (many who exited Hong Kong during that time) to increasingly more on-trade clientele who can personalise Swiss wine narratives.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople in Hong Kong are keen to learn and discover more about wines through storytelling,\u201d he said. \u201cToday, Swiss wines represent good value for money. They are not fancy, though their aim is always for excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another one of Fleury\u2019s on-trade clients is The Peninsula Hong Kong. The cellar at the flagship property for The Peninsula Hotels stocks 80 references from 20 wineries. \u201cIn 2015, we had 15 Swiss references,\u201d noted chef sommelier Marc Le Gallic. \u201cToday, we offer one of the most serious Swiss wine lists in Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Swiss](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bar-at-Te-Bo-640x426.jpeg\")
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Quality perception shift<\/p>\n
The steady increase in Swiss wine offering at the hotel is tied to the on-going legacy of its Swiss restaurant Chesa. Opened in 1965, it is one of the oldest restaurants in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur sale of Swiss wine is driven by Chesa,\u201d admitted Le Gallic. \u201cWe want guests to enjoy the full experience of being in the middle of a Swiss chalet interior. Of course we would highlight the wines of Switzerland first, particularly from mountainous regions such as the iconic Gantenbein Winery, as they pair well with Chesa\u2019s menu.\u201d<\/p>\n
Le Gallic observed that as Swiss consumers tended to drink their own country\u2019s wines, what had traditionally been exported were lower end vintages. The result was a general perception that Swiss wines were expensive yet of inferior quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings have improved a lot in the past few decades,\u201d<\/a> he stated. \u201cDamien gave us the opportunity for more diversity. Though there is a new wave and generation of winemakers, Swiss wines are still a very niche market.\u201d<\/p>\n Food pairing picks<\/p>\n He is a fan of Swiss varietal Chasselas, noting that its wines are easy to drink, not too fruity or acidic, and pair well with Swiss classics such as fondue and Raclette. For The Peninsula\u2019s Cantonese restaurant Spring Moon, he recommended Swiss Riesling.<\/p>\n \u201cIts dry, warmer aroma goes well with Spring Moon\u2019s menu of dim sum,\u201d Le Gallic noted. Recent additions to the list include Besson-Strasser and Domaine des Landions from the Neuch\u00e2tel Lake region in Jura. \u201cThese wines from the Jura region speak to my French soul,\u201d said Le Gallic with a grin. \u201cThey pair well with fish from different lakes and dairy.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery region of Switzerland has a rising star\u2014making it one of the most dynamic countries in the wine world.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n
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