“Wirz Obstbau und Brennerei”: The Wirz fruit farm and distillery is located in Reigoldswil in the Swiss canton of Baselland

Nowhere in Switzerland do you see as many cherry and plum trees than in the little canton of Baselland. But even in this traditional fruit-growing canton, time hasn’t stood still. With its idyllic location, the Niestelen Farm in Reigoldswil is surrounded by modern orchards. Plum, apple, pear and cherry trees line the orchards with such precision that the neat lines almost resemble the exactness of military order. The Wirz family not only produces fruit for brandy but table fruit as well. Distillers like the Wirz family who mainly distill their own fruit not only create an optimal value-added product, but also exercise optimal quality control – especially since the quality of a brandy ultimately begins in the orchard. Hansruedi Wirz cultivates his orchards in harmony with nature according to the Guidelines for Integrated Production (IP), using pruning methods that ensure optimal light management. This innovative philosophy leads to first-rate brandies, a fact that the regularly demonstrates at the Distisuisse Spirits Awards, the most important competition for Swiss distillers.