When people think of Switzerland, vodka is not usually what comes to mind. But that will soon change when they try Xellent Swiss Vodka, the first and only Swiss vodka.

Leave it to the Swiss who have raised chocolate making to an art form, and watch making that sets the standard for the rest of the world, to jump into the vodka market and develop vodka from grain. Swiss Vodka is actually a new product. Prior to 1999, it was illegal to distill grains grown in Switzerland. However, with tenacious Swiss ingenuity and inspiration from the family-owned DIWISA (Distillery Willisau, SA), the law was changed, and DIWISA created Xellent, to become the first and only Swiss vodka.

Switzerland also produces some of the world's finest wine, although only about one percent of it is actually exported. Switzerland has a number of very distinctive white wines, defined by unusual grape varieties that are adapted to the country’s climates and terroirs. They include Petite Arvine, Cornalin and the crossbreed Riesling variety, Muller-Thurgau. But the most widely known white comes from the Chasselas (Fendant) grape – which is grown other countries but only with success, claim the critics, in Switzerland.

Alongside with an increase in the perceived quality of Swiss wine, the last five years has also seen traditional Swiss grape varieties make room for popular global varietals as well - mainly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon reds.