Wine at St. Moritz - ski resort luxury meets wine
The world's most legendary ski resort offers unmatched luxury après-ski with world-class wine lists. Two Winter Olympics, polo on the frozen lake, and Champagne bars with panoramic views define the St. Moritz wine experience at altitude.
A Wine Memories experience · winememories.fi
How to Complete
11 steps curated by Wine Memories
- 🍷 Log Memory
In 1864, Johannes Badrutt made a bet with British summer guests: 'Come in winter. If you don't like it, I pay your expenses.' They came, loved it, and winter tourism was born right here at Badrutt's Palace Hotel (Via Serlas 27). His wine cellar beneath your feet now holds 30,000+ bottles — one of the world's 10 greatest hotel cellars. Ask the concierge 'Can I see where the wine elevator is?' and they'll point to the original 1900s shaft that still carries bottles up. Look for the 'Krug Ambassade' plaque — one of only 36 worldwide. The real treasure: Krug Stübli restaurant is inside the cellar, so you can dine surrounded by the bottles.
🔄 BACKUP: If concierge is busy, walk to the lower level hallway. The cellar door is marked 'Wine Cellar - 30,000 Bottles Since 1896.'
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Monks planted these vines in 950 AD, with wine documented since 1068 — making Schloss Salenegg Europe's oldest continuously operating winery at 958 years. The same family (Gugelberg von Moos) has owned it since 1654. Oxford University didn't exist yet when these vines were planted. Cellar tours run every Friday at 3pm and first Saturday of the month at 2pm (free, no reservation) at this remarkable estate 40 minutes from St. Moritz via train to Chur (1h15m), then local train to Maienfeld (20min). Ask about the 1068 document and hunt for Pinot Noir from the original vineyard blocks — 1,070 years of history in your glass.
🔄 BACKUP: Drop-ins welcome for tastings Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm without tour. Ask for 'Pinot Noir Malanser' — from the oldest blocks.
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Since 1907 (119 years), thoroughbreds have raced on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz at 1,800m altitude. 130,000m² tent city rises on 40-80cm thick ice with 30,000+ spectators watching. The Laurent-Perrier bar is LITERALLY on the lake - you're drinking champagne on ice while horses gallop past at 50km/h during White Turf races (February 8, 15, and 22, 2026). There is NOTHING else like this on Earth. Book VIP hospitality packages (€200-500) at whiteturf.ch for guaranteed Laurent-Perrier access, or buy general admission (€25) and hunt for the gold champagne tents yourself.
🔄 BACKUP: FREE Family Days run Feb 7, 14, 21 with access to the lake and viewing areas. Bring your own champagne (allowed) and watch from the public stands.
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You are ABOVE the vineyards at Piz Nair summit restaurant (3,057m). Take Corviglia funicular from St. Moritz Dorf, then cable car to the top. You're drinking Pinot Noir from Bündner Herrschaft while pointing DOWN 1,500 vertical meters at the valley where the grapes grew. Order 'Quenard Chignin-Bergeron' or any Bündner Herrschaft Pinot Noir and ask the server: 'Can you point to where this wine comes from?' They'll walk you to the terrace and point northeast toward Maienfeld - you can SEE the vineyard valley from 2,000m above it.
🔄 BACKUP: Winter hours Dec 20-Apr 6, 2026: 9am-4:30pm. Summer Jun 27-Oct 18: same hours. Warm kitchen 11am-3:45pm. If wine list is limited, ask for 'any Swiss Pinot Noir from Graubünden.'
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Built as a farmhouse in 1658, Chesa Veglia ('old house' in Romansh) was saved from demolition in 1928 by Hans Badrutt and turned into St. Moritz's most atmospheric restaurant complex. It houses 3 restaurants sharing a legendary wine program: Patrizier Stuben (coziest), Grill Chadafö (grilled meats), Pizzeria Heuboden (in the old hayloft). Book Patrizier Stuben (Via Veglia 2) for the most intimate experience and ask the sommelier: 'What's your rarest Graubünden Pinot Noir?' They stock Gantenbein (if you're VERY lucky) and other cult Swiss bottles you can't find elsewhere.
🔄 BACKUP: If fully booked, walk in for drinks at the bar and ask to see the historic beams and 1658 construction. The sommelier will often let you taste standing up.
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Completer wine - first mentioned 1321 in Malans, named after 'completorium' (the Benedictine monks' evening prayer when they were ALLOWED to drink in silence). Only 4 HECTARES exist on Earth. Restaurant Engiadina (Via Dimlej 1, 5-minute walk from train station) is ranked #2 of 106 St. Moritz restaurants for their fondue. Order it, then ask: 'Do you have Completer wine?' If yes: taste the 1321 grape. If no: ask for 'any white from Malans or Jenins' - you'll likely get Completer's cousin, Pinot Gris from the same terroir.
🔄 BACKUP: Call ahead (+41 81 833 30 00) to confirm Completer stock. Backup producers to request: Donatsch, von Tscharner, or Gantenbein (if they made white that year).
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The funicular from 1905 — the first in the Engadin — runs until 23:00 during season, meaning sunset dinner at 2,456m altitude, then STAY for the stars. Muottas Muragl Panorama Restaurant overlooks the Upper Engadine lake plateau like a map. Take the funicular from Punt Muragl (near Samedan, 10min drive from St. Moritz), book sunset reservation (check muottasmuragl.ch for current 'magic hour' times), and ask for a window table facing the lakes. Order any Bündner Herrschaft Pinot Noir and watch it glow purple as the sun sets over the Bernina massif.
🔄 BACKUP: If restaurant is full, ride up just for sunset drinks on the terrace (no reservation needed). The funicular schedule is posted — last ride down is 23:00 winter, 23:30 summer.
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In 1967, Hartly Mathis opened La Marmite as the FIRST mountain restaurant for gourmets at 2,486m (Corviglia funicular top station from St. Moritz Dorf). Reto Mathis (son) took over in 1994 and serves oysters, truffles, caviar, and champagne at altitude. The claim: 'World's best mountain restaurant.' Royal families and the St. Moritz jet set have been coming for 57 years. Book weeks ahead (mathisfood.com), order champagne (vintage Krug, Dom Pérignon, Salon), and ask your server: 'Is this REALLY the world's best?' Their answer tells you if they believe the hype.
🔄 BACKUP: Walk-ins possible at the adjacent Brasserie or Stube (more casual). Same family, same cellar access, lower prices.
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You're hiking through the SAME calcareous soils and Alpine föhn winds that produce Switzerland's most sought-after Pinot Noir. Gantenbein (6 hectares) makes 1,200 cases/year - all pre-sold. The Weinwanderweg trail (Maienfeld to Jenins, 6km) runs RIGHT PAST their vineyard. Start at Maienfeld station (train from St. Moritz 1h35m via Chur), follow yellow signs for 'Weinwanderweg,' and at 2.5km you'll see Gantenbein's vineyard on the right - NO tasting room, but you can photograph the vines. Finish in Jenins and visit open cellars for tastings (many producers open Friday-Saturday).
🔄 BACKUP: Guided wine hikes run Fridays at 4:30pm Apr-Oct (90 minutes, includes tasting, free). Meet at Maienfeld tourism office.
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Art Nouveau bar inspired by Belle Époque elegance with floor-to-ceiling wine fridges lining the walls at N/5 - THE BAR (GRACE LA MARGNA hotel, Via Mezdi 5, St. Moritz Bad). 725 wine varieties + 20 different sakes where local characters and style-conscious explorers meet. Walk in for après-ski (4-7pm is peak), grab a seat at the ground-floor bar, and ask the bartender: 'What's your best Swiss Pinot Noir from Graubünden that's NOT on every list?' They stock deep cuts from Gantenbein's neighbors - von Tscharner, Donatsch, Ottiger - producers locals drink but tourists never hear about.
🔄 BACKUP: If the bar is full, book a table at THE VIEW restaurant (Mediterranean) and ask to see the wine fridge room. The sommelier gives informal tours.
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Once every few years, the four Bündner Herrschaft villages take turns hosting a massive wine festival where the ENTIRE village becomes a wine party. 2026 is Maienfeld's turn for the Herrschäftler Festival (September 4-6). Show up Saturday afternoon (Sept 5, peak hours 2-8pm) and hunt for Completer wine at every cellar - someone will have it. Ask producers: 'What's your best Pinot Noir block?' They'll pour you the good stuff and tell you the story of their grandfather's vines. Train from St. Moritz to Maienfeld takes 1h35m.
🔄 BACKUP: If you miss 2026 festival, check graubuendenwein.ch for other Herrschaft events. Wineries host open-cellar days sporadically — Jenins in odd years, Fläsch in even years.