Swiss wine makers propose a toast for Euro 2008

29 May 2008

GENEVA – A lively chardonnay was the best way to toast the start of Euro 2008, wine growers in Geneva recommended Thursday.

They have come up with three different wines to accompany the tournament starting with a white appropriately named Coup d’Envoi, or Kick-Off.

This should be followed by a robust rose, Mise en Touche or In to Touch, for half-time, finishing up with a complex and winning red for the final whistle called Prolongation, Extra Time.

The Cave de Geneve (Geneva Wine Cellar) created the wines from the 2007 harvest and they went on sale this week.

"We produced 3,000 of each and there has been a lot of interest particularly from restaurants," said Cave de Geneve Director Daniel Santschi.

Regular clients were also very interested and the selection was now available on the internet.

"We were looking for an original and enjoyable way to celebrate the football in June," said Santschi. "We quickly came up with the idea and the choice of grapes was easy."

The label too was designed to capture the idea of the great football party with the cartoon style bunch of grapes transforming halfway round into a bunch of footballs.

The wine is selling at CHF 132 for a dozen or CHF 11 a bottle.

[dpa / Expatica]