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SOMMWINE GRAPE LIBRARY
Chasselas
Also known as Chasselas doré (official French name for propagation material), Bela zlahtnina (Slovenia), Chasselas dorato (Italy), Chrupka bila (Czechia), Gutedel (Austria; common name form), Weisser Gutedel (Germany), Plemanka bijela (Croatia), Fendant (Valais wine name/designation; regional use, not an unrestricted synonym)
Chasselas is a white grape whose most compelling story is how clearly it can reflect place without insisting on a loud varietal signature. Across French-speaking Switzerland, it ranges from light, softly textured aperitif wines to more concentrated regional examples. In Valais it is known as Fendant; in Vaud it is the emblematic white grape. Its birthplace remains a matter of evidence and probability, with genetic and historical research pointing most strongly toward the Lake Geneva region.
ColourWhite
ClassificationVitis vinifera L.; white-berried wine and table grape.
Typical bodySwiss Wine Promotion characterizes typical Swiss expressions as light and elegant; fuller examples are possible and body is not fixed by the cultivar.
Typical acidityOften low or soft in the official Portuguese cultivar description and Swiss regional wine descriptions; actual wine acidity varies with site, harvest and production.
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At a Glance
Switzerland: commonly dry, light to elegant, softly acidic whites; regional expression is emphasized.
Typical tannin: Not applicable to conventional white wines; skin-contact wine is not assumed.
Aromas and Flavours
- Swiss regional descriptions include subtle apple, pear, citrus and floral notes; terroir-associated flint or hazelnut may occur in some wines. Portuguese official description notes modest aromatic intensity. These are regional/producer-dependent examples, not a guaranteed aroma set.
Where It Grows
- Vaud
- Valais (Fendant)
- Geneva
- Three Lakes / Neuchâtel
- Savoie
- Alsace
- Switzerland
- France
- Germany
- Portugal
- Austria
- Italy
- Czechia
- Slovenia
- Croatia
Climate and Winemaking
No universal climate prescription asserted. Swiss regional descriptions report successful adaptation across varied local soils and microclimates; do not infer that every climate produces the same style.
Plantgrape describes early maturity; in its Domaine de Vassal reference series mean budburst is 17 March and maturity 12 August. It notes susceptibility to powdery mildew, phomopsis, eutypa dieback, magnesium deficiency (especially on potassium-rich soils), stem desiccation and, depending on conditions, millerandage. It reports lower susceptibility to grey rot and mites. IVV lists overlapping sensitivities and early maturity. These observations are site- and system-dependent.
No signature cellar method is inherent. Swiss official sources emphasize terroir expression and show a range of wines; Fendant may be slightly spritzy. Specific fermentation, lees, oak or ageing choices should be described from an individual wine rather than generalized to the grape.
Food Pairings
- Editorial: fondue, raclette and other cheese dishes, based on the wine’s delicacy and the Swiss regional pairing tradition.
- Editorial: freshwater fish, white-fleshed fish or seafood; adjust weight and preparation to the particular wine.
Ageing Potential
- No universal ageing window asserted. Swiss regional sources note that some older examples can develop nutty, waxy or dried-fruit notes, but bottle and vintage matter.
Test Your Knowledge
- Why is Fendant a regional Valais wine name rather than a universally interchangeable grape synonym?
- What evidence places Chasselas’ probable origin near Lake Geneva, and why should the origin remain qualified?
- How can low acidity and relatively subtle aromatics make site and production choices particularly noticeable?
Related Grapes
Sources and Further Reading
- Chasselas B — Plantgrape cultivar export
- Chasselas — Swiss Wine Promotion
- Historical and genetic study of the origin of Chasselas
- Chasselas — Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho cultivar database
- Chasselas — Swiss Wine Valais
- Chasselas — Swiss Wine Vaud grape varieties
- Chasselas — LCBO glossary
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wines Specification, Issue 2.1 (Aug 2026)
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wines qualification page
