Ticino is one of the smallest wine-growing region located in the Italian-speaking south part of Switzerland. Here is the land of the Merlot which has plantings occupying 90% of the total grape varieties of the wine region. The climate of the region is Mediterranean, which makes it the warmest of all, as it is the most southerly placed region. The high number of average sunshine hours and the high average temperatures in the wine region favours the good maturing of the grapes. Most of the vineyards in Ticino are fragmented and located on terraced slopes due to the landscape, and that limits the land where a man can plant vines. At the moment the big part of the vineyards its own by independent growers which are selling their grapes to companies or cooperatives. The region is divided into two wine-growing areas including Sopraceneri in the north, where one can still see vines growing on pergolas, and the Sottoceneri in the south. Some of the best locations are between the lakes Lago Maggiore and Lago di Lugano. Other grape varieties which thrive in the terroir of Ticino are Chardonnay, Garanoir, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ticino wine region is still in the shadow of the big wine-growing regions in the country but it has awakened some international attention with its outstanding expressions of the Merlot.