#weiningen

Siemens complex in Fahrweid Weiningen, Dietikon, Zürich, Switzerland; 1957-59

Walter Niehus, Georges Albisetti (photographs by Bernhard Moosbrugger)

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I couldn't realize how much work goes into a winery until I actually walked through one. For an outsider like me it was in no way expected to see the grapes hanging all at the same height, the vines all vertical, the plants all the same age and well all those regular rows striping the hill of Weiningen. I mean, Swiss is Swiss but THAT regular?!? I think Weiningen is the closest winery to Zurich (you can actually see the city outskirts behind that lone tree) and although I couldn't find any "official" sources, I would bet in fair safety that the name of the place comes from wine-making. I know, you probably didn't hear about it: Swiss wines aren't that known outside the borders. You probably never heard of Aigle either from the canton of Vaud, the castle turned prison turned museum of wine painted above by my friend Lucian Popescu - although it's surrounded by some of the best wineries of Switzerland... but, everybody's like doing wine nowadays. Then why did I bring along to my friend a bottle of beer? To surprise him and all the other table guests? Yep, that was the reason. That, and I wanted to have myself a taste of this Deus - Brut des Flanders. A Belgian Cuvée Prestige beer already 2 years old, real beer I say, strong, full-bodied and sweet, surprisingly aromatic and tasty even hough the recommended serving temperature 2°-4°C (that's like 37°F) hinted me completely otherwise. Thinking of Heineken? No way José. This stuff was really good. Just pay attention when you pour - I didn't, then soaked a bunch of things around. More than once. Grr.