A day in Schaffhausen: Travelling through Pinot Noir country

Travelling on the Wii Express

Pinot Noir, also known as Blauburgunder, is the most widely cultivated grape variety in Switzerland. In Schaffhausen, the entire wine region, Blauburgunderland, is named after the grape.

A tour on the Wii-Express offers a special experience in this region: On the round trip with the typical red London double-decker bus, you not only get to know the Klettgau wine-growing region, but also get to savour the local wines.

"The offer combines the beauty of the landscape with the theme of wine," says Selina Weber, Project Manager Tourism & Wine at Schaffhauserland Tourismus.

The Wii-Express first stops at the Weinkrone, the museum of the Blauburgunderland. It starts with a glass of sparkling wine and an aperitif platter. This is followed by a 45-minute round trip through the Klettgau region. Afterwards, there is a wine tasting in a wine cellar, where you can get to the bottom of the variety of flavours of Pinot Noir.

One of the wineries regularly visited by the Wii Express is Rötiberg Kellerei. In this interview, Stephan Keller reveals more about his work, which often revolves around the Pinot Noir grape.

Exploring the insider tip of Pinot Noir country

As Selina Weber from Schaffhauserland Tourism explains, the region in the north of Switzerland is still relatively undiscovered. However, it has a lot to offer: You can always catch a glimpse of the Rhine – and combine a refreshing dip in the river with an aperitif on the banks, for example.

The Rhine can also be travelled on a trip on the Wii boat: Various wines from local winegrowers can be tasted en route between Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein.

Selina Weber also recommends a bike tour or a hike through the vineyards. The latter is best done on a wine hike, before the start of which participants receive a rucksack with wine and glasses. You can then choose your own favourite spot for the toast!

Fine food and drink at Gmaandhuus 8213

No matter how you have explored the Blauburgunderland, you will get hungry at some point. To satisfy this, a visit to Gmaandhuus 8213 in Neunkirch is highly recommended.

The restaurant combines Mediterranean and local flavours and cooks with ingredients from the region. Host and manager Marco Rüedi personally pours the wine – almost exclusively from the region. In this interview, he explains why a local wine selection is so important to him.

Further inspiration for restaurants offering local wines can be found on the Swiss Wine Gourmet website. There are already over 1000 restaurants across Switzerland that have been awarded the label of the same name.