Scenic Wine Tour: Wine & Cheese Tasting - Interlaken

- Taste 4 local Swiss wines paired with regional cheese in the Spiez vineyards - Walk through vineyards below the 11th-century Spiez Castle above Lake Thun - Discover Swiss wines that almost never leave the country (less than 2% exported) - Small group experience with a guide who lives in the Bernese Oberland - Golden hour over the lake, the Niesen pyramid, and the Bernese Alps

When travelers think of Switzerland, they imagine mountains, lakes, chocolate, and cheese. Wine rarely comes to mind. And yet, between the Alpine peaks and the turquoise lakes lies one of the country's best-kept traditions: Swiss wine, made in tiny quantities and almost entirely consumed inside the country. Switzerland produces around 100 million liters of wine per year and exports less than 2% of it. That means most visitors leave the country without ever tasting it. This afternoon experience takes you into the heart of one of Switzerland's most scenic wine regions, far from the tourist crowds of Interlaken. We start from Interlaken and drive along the shore of Lake Thun toward the small town of Spiez, where vines have been cultivated since the medieval period. The Spiez vineyard sits on a south-facing slope above the lake, just below the 11th-century Spiez Castle. The combination of lake reflection, Alpine soil, and warm afternoon sun creates a microclimate that produces surprisingly elegant whites and crisp reds. Once in the vineyards, you'll taste 4 carefully selected local Swiss wines, each paired with regional cheese, fresh bread from a local bakery, and small Bernese delicacies. As we walk through the vines and the historic courtyards overlooking the lake, your guide shares stories about Swiss wine culture, the families who still farm these slopes, and how the canton of Bern has quietly built one of the most unique wine traditions in the Alps. Golden hour transforms the vineyards. The lake turns silver, the Niesen pyramid catches the last light, and the Spiez Castle glows against the mountains. It's the kind of moment that makes you forget you're 25 minutes from Interlaken. This is more than a wine tasting. It's a slow, scenic, and social afternoon designed for travelers who want to discover a more authentic side of Switzerland: the one locals keep for themselves. Who this is for: couples, friends, food and wine lovers, solo travelers curious about Swiss culture beyond the postcard, anyone who prefers a relaxed afternoon to another packed sightseeing list. Not ideal for: travelers under 18, anyone in a rush. What makes this different: we are one of the few small-group operators offering wine tasting in the Bernese Oberland. Most wine tours in Switzerland focus on Lavaux or Valais. Spiez is closer, smaller, and almost untouched by mass tourism. You'll be tasting wines that 95% of visitors to Switzerland never even hear about. Can't find your preferred date? Message us on WhatsApp. We open extra afternoons on request for small groups, private bookings, and special occasions, and we'll do our best to make your date work.

- Standard price : 139 CHF per person - Group price (6+ people) : 129 CHF per person - Private tour : available on request

- Pick-up and drop-off in Interlaken (small-group experience) - Scenic drive along Lake Thun - Expert local guide and storytelling - 4 tastings of carefully selected local Swiss wines - Regional Swiss cheese, fresh bread, and local delicacies - Guided walk through the vineyards and historic exterior courtyards of Spiez Castle - Stunning lake and mountain viewpoints during golden hour *Not included: - Additional wine purchases - Personal expenses - Tips for the guide (optional)

- Comfortable walking shoes - Weather-appropriate clothing - A light jacket or sweater (it can get breezy by the lake) - Sunglasses and sunscreen - Camera or phone for photos - A big smile

- Suitable for most fitness levels - About 15 minutes of easy walking in total, on flat or gently sloped paths *Not suitable for: - Children under 18 years old - Pregnant women - Guests with reduced mobility - People with heart conditions - Dogs are unfortunately not allowed on this tour

- Season: May – October (depending on conditions) - Duration: 3 hours - Start time: 3:30 PM

- Come thirsty, we have plenty of wine - Perfect for photos with lake and mountain views - Ask your guide about local life and traditions - Ideal to combine with another one of our activities for a full Swiss day

Most operators in the Bernese Oberland ignore wine completely. It doesn't fit the outdoor adventure narrative, and for most visitors, Switzerland means mountains, not vineyards. Pierre noticed something different. Living in the region, he watched local families quietly stop at small cellars near Spiez Castle on weekend drives, picking up bottles that never appeared on any tourist menu or restaurant list. The wine existed, it was good, and nobody outside the region knew about it. After researching the history of the Spiez vineyard, vines that have been cultivated on this south-facing slope above Lake Thun since the medieval period, he started running informal sessions with friends in the summer of 2023. The reaction was the same every time: why doesn't anyone offer this? The answer is that it takes time to build the right relationships with local producers, to learn which wines actually represent the region, and to design a route that feels like a real afternoon in Switzerland rather than a staged tasting room visit. That's what this experience is, three seasons in the making, built around wines that less than 2% of visitors to Switzerland ever taste.

*What wines will I taste? Local wines from Spiez: a Souvignier Gris, a blend of Souvignier Gris and Sauvignac, a Cabernet Jura and a Pinot Noir. Your guide explains each wine as you taste it, in plain language, no wine expertise required. *Do I need to know anything about wine? Not at all. This is a relaxed afternoon, not a sommelier course. Curious beginners and seasoned wine lovers both enjoy it equally. *How much walking is involved? About 15 minutes of easy walking in total. Paths are flat to gently sloped and well-maintained. Comfortable sneakers are fine - no hiking boots needed. *Is this a shared or private experience? Shared by default, small group maximum. Private tours are available on request for couples, groups, or special occasions - contact us directly for pricing. *Can I buy wine to take home? We don't stop at a shop during the tour. We walk past the building where these wines are made, and your guide can tell you where to find them afterwards. *What if I don't drink alcohol? The tasting is the core of the experience, so this tour is best suited for wine drinkers. *What if it rains? Light rain doesn't cancel the tour. We cancel in case of heavy rain, thunderstorms, or strong wind. If we cancel, you receive a full refund or we rebook you on another date. *Is there a minimum age? Yes, 18 years old.

Our tours can be affected by weather conditions, however it is difficult to predict exactly how a trip will be impacted until the day of the activity. Please make sure we have good contact information for you so we can reach out if your trip is changed or cancelled due to poor conditions. If you have not heard from us, it means we are still planning to run your trip as scheduled, or we have not yet made a final decision based on the forecast. If we are not able to run your trip, we will try to accommodate you on another date, another activity, or we will issue you a full refund.

Cancellation requests must be made at least 48 hours before trip time to be eligible for a refund. In case of cancellation by the organizer due to weather or safety reasons, a full refund or rescheduling will be offered. For more details regarding our cancellation policy, please see our full Terms and Conditions.