Gault&Millau

by Daniel Böniger | March 7, 2025 - 06:58 AM
Photos: Lukas Lienhard

Gault&Millau: Swiss Wine | Winemaker x Star Chef

Igniv, Zurich: A Stage for Jonas Ettlin's Wines

Intimate Wine and Dine: Winemaker Ettlin is a guest of Ines Triebenbacher & Daniel Zeindlhofer.

Pure Harmony. A perfect 'Wine Pairing'? Connoisseurs typically refer to this when the wine in the glass and the food on the plate harmonize exceptionally well. One could also speak of a perfect 'Wine Pairing' when a winemaker and a restaurant are optimally matched: This is precisely the case with Zurich-based organic winemaker Jonas Ettlin and the team at Restaurant Igniv, comprising hostess Ines Triebenbacher and head chef Daniel Zeindlhofer. Main image above: Jonas Ettlin, Daniel Zeindlhofer, Ines Triebenbacher.

SOUGHT: SUCCESSFUL PAIRINGS. On this Tuesday morning, Jonas Ettlin, sporting a jaunty flat cap, enters the restaurant. He has brought several of his current wines, which he has been producing under the 'JET' label in Uetikon on Lake Zurich for the past two years. The purpose of the meeting? To ascertain which wines best complement the current 'Igniv' dishes. One quickly observes the vibrant and inspired collaboration between Ettlin and Gault&Millau's Hostess of the Year 2025, Ines Triebenbacher: As soon as the corks are drawn, the two experts become engrossed in conversation.