Swiss wine is looking for a way out
Edouard Amoiel
01 septembre 2026
In an interview with the daily newspaper Le Temps, Guy Parmelin described the wine crisis as “historic.” Faced with pressure from imports, declining consumption, and exports that remain negligible, the President of the Swiss Confederation warned that no single measure will be enough to save the entire industry.
In an interview with the daily newspaper *Le Temps*, Guy Parmelin makes no attempt to downplay the severity of the crisis facing the Swiss wine industry. The President of the Swiss Confederation, who also serves as Minister of Agriculture and is a former winemaker, acknowledges that the measures currently being considered will not be enough to save the entire industry. The proposal to make certain import quotas contingent on the purchase of Swiss grapes is facing strong opposition, particularly from German-speaking organizations. A solution may still emerge, but it will likely be “minimalist,” warns Guy Parmelin.
Declining consumption
Because the crisis goes beyond the issue of imports alone. Wine consumption is declining, aperitif habits are changing, and low-priced foreign wines continue to weigh on the market. At the same time, Switzerland exports only 1 to 1.5 percent of its production, compared with 30 to 40 percent in some of its neighboring countries.
For Guy Parmelin, the industry must therefore reclaim its own market, but also look beyond its borders. India, China, and the United States could offer new opportunities for Swiss wines, which remain too obscure abroad. This expansion, however, will not be enough to avoid a profound restructuring. Some vineyards, which have become too costly to maintain, may have to be uprooted. It’s a painful prospect, but one that’s now hard to ignore. “The coming period will be extremely difficult,” admits the federal councilor. The assessment is grim: for Swiss wine, it is no longer just a matter of weathering a bad harvest, but of reinventing an entire business model. FULL INTERVIEW
