Petra Koci

Petra Koci is a freelance journalist and author. In her book “Weltatlas der Schweizer Orte” (World Atlas of Swiss Places), she profiles Swiss settlements on five continents.

The first commercial winery in the United States – established by a Swiss immigrant!

Petra Koci 01.08.2022 In 1796, Jean-Jacques Dufour emigrated from the Lake Geneva region with the stated aim of becoming a successful winegrower in distant America. The Swiss grower founded the colony of Vevay, Indiana, which did indeed manage to produce wine.

When a man from Vaud set out to bring his knowledge of wine to North America… Illustration by Marco Heer.

Two Swiss villages on the Black Sea

Petra Koci 25.03.2022 Ukrainians are fleeing westwards into the unknown, with some also heading to Switzerland. More than 200 years ago, Swiss settlers migrated east to Ukraine and established two Helvetic colonies: Zürichtal in Crimea. And Shabo near Odessa.

Zürichtal was renamed Zolotoe Pole – the golden field – in 1945.

Switzerland elsewhere

Petra Koci 16.04.2019 Switzerland was not always a prosperous country. Up until 150 years ago, many set off for distant lands. The emigrants took a piece of their homeland with them and founded towns such as Zurichtal, Berne and Nova Friburgo.