VAUD WINE REGION IN SWITZERLAND
The incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces on Lake Geneva
Photo source: Winekeller
Recommended wine tour experiences in Vaud:
Walk & Wine
Laika Collinassi Michot is a formal Heritage Guide at the Lavaux UNESCO vineyards, a member of the Swiss Association of Heritage Guides and a partner with Vaudoenotourism and Swiss Wine Tour.
Laika and her professional guides invite you to discover the incredible vineyards and villages of Lavaux and La Côte in the beautiful Swiss wine region of Vaud.
Walk & Wine also offers in-depth tours of Lausanne’s famous gothic cathedral, including an insight into its fascinating medieval symbols.
If you’re looking to learn about this world-famous wine region, we can think of no better way than to join one of Walk & Wine’s brilliant tours!
Our personal wine travel experiences in Vaud (see our wine travel blog):
What is Vaud Switzerland known for?
Vaud, in French-speaking Switzerland, is the country’s second most important wine canton. In the west of Switzerland, bordering France it stretches from the Jura to Lake Geneva and the Vaud Alps.
Vaud is the traditional heart of Swiss wine, with Cistercian monks introducing vines and viticulture from Burgundy more than 900 years ago and forming the steep and characteristic terraced vineyards of Dézaley in the Lavaux region (see below). Vaud is understandably proud of its significant wine history and its wines are the cornerstone of its regional and cultural heritage and identity.
Vaud Switzerland is a very popular destination, with the scenic beauty of Lake Geneva , the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site Lavaux, vineyard terraces and cities such as Lausanne and Montreux and the Vallée de Joux, the home of Swiss watchmaking.
La Côte vieyards, Vaud
Photo source: Vaud Wine Office
Where is the Vaud wine region?
The Vaud wine region stretches along the northern shore of Lake Geneva, (or Lac Léman), extending to Lake Neuchâtel and consists of six separate wine regions - or AOCs/appellations - including La Côte, Lavaux, and Chablais on the north shore of Lake Geneva and Les Côtes de l’Orbe, Bonvillars and Vully located south of the Three Lakes Region. The total area under vine is some 3,700 hectares.
La Côte AOC - located between Morges and Nyon on the shores of Lake Geneva, 2,000 hectares of vines that stretch from the gently undulating border lands in Geneva to Lausanne - the largest of the Vaud wine regions;
Lavaux AOC - the jewel in the Vaud crown, the dramatic beauty of Lavaux led to it being registered a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. From Lausanne to Montreux, 760 hectares of vines planted on terraces on sometimes dizzyingly steep slopes overlooking Lake Geneva - the birthplace of great white wines, particularly Chasselas, the region's emblematic grape variety (see later);
Chablais AOC - located between Lake Geneva and the Valais wine region, where the lake gives way to the River Rhône, leaning against the foothills of the Alps - 600 hectares of vineyards planted in mainly rocky, limestone soils which gives the wines an amazing mineral nature;
Les Côtes de l’Orbe AOC - 170 hectares of vineyards located on the plain between lakes Geneva and Neuchâtel, this is the oldest of Switzerland's wine-producing regions, named after the River Orbe which runs through it - limestone, sandstone and clay soils and a relatively dry climate;
Bonvillars AOC - 190 hectares of vineyards in the gentle countryside from the foothills of the Jura to the idyllic shores of Lake Neuchâtel;
Vully AOC - The smallest of the Swiss wine regions - 50 hectares of vineyards spread out on the hillsides between the shores of Lake Morat and Mont-Vully. A region marked by old domains and well-aged vines, as well as innovative new winemakers.
These 6 regions represent Vaud’s 6 appellations (AOCs), but there are also 2 additional Grand-Cru appellations - the Dézaley Grand Cru AOC in the commune of Puidoux and the Calamin Grand Cru AOC in the commune of Epesses.
Côtes de l’Orbe vineyards, Vaud
Photo source: Vaud Wine Office
Canton Vaud wines - ‘the home of Chasselas’
The vineyards in Vaud are gently ripened by the mild climate around Lake Geneva - this is what distinguishes the Vaud wine region, as well as the variety of soils and the incredible terraced vineyards. Vaud is the only Swiss wine region which produces mostly white wine and its emblematic grape variety is Chasselas, which originates from around Lake Geneva. In fact about 60% of the Vaud vineyards are planted with Chasselas and only some 35% are planted with red grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Gamay mostly).
Chasselas is a mild grape variety and in general it produces fresh, fruity, aromatic wines, but the variety of soils produces different styles of wines across the region - some more mineral, some more fruity and some more aromatic. Here, the important element of the wine label is not the grape variety, Chasselas, but the vineyard site - of which there are about 150 - reflecting a unique terroir and therefore a specific style. The wines from La Côte for example tend to be more aromatic in style, from the Grand-Cru Calamin site, more flinty and mineral and from Dézaley and St-Saphorin, both fruity and mineral.
Discover more about Chassleas and the Vaud grape varieties here.
Vully vineyards, Vaud
Photo source: Vaud Wine Office
Vaud Switzerland - things to do and what not to miss
Vaud has lots to offer the visitor, with so many natural, scenic, beauty attractions to enjoy, especially the spectacular lakes and Alpine mountain scenery and the Unesco World Heritage Lavaux vineyards, but at its heart is the Olympic city of Lausanne, a treasure not to be missed on the shores of Lake Geneva.
How best to discover Vaud
If you fly into Geneva airport you can hire a car to discover the region, or alternatively use public transport. The train network is excellent and of course a great way to explore the region is by boat, along Lake Geneva. You can purchase a Swiss Travel Pass which gives you unlimited travel by train, bus and boat and there are options for free or discounted travel - see here for more information.
Lake Geneva Switzerland
Lake Geneva, also known as Lac Léman, is shared between France and Switzerland and is the largest lake in Western Europe and the largest on the Rhône river. The lake is known for its spectacular views, particularly of the Alps, and is surrounded by numerous cities and towns, including Geneva, Lausanne, and Montreux. On the southern, French side, is the spa town and resort of Évian-les-Bains.
The most known section of the lake is between Lausanne and Montreux - where chic, elegant towns and incredible lakeside villas mix with historic, steep vineyards and small winegrowing villages, all overlooked by the majestic mountains, reflected in the lake. The best way to experience Lake Geneva is by boat - but if you’re a keen cyclist, there are lots of great bike routes around the lake and you can even cycle the whole way round it - route 46 and about 200kms takes you the whole way round on both the Swiss and French sides.
Cycle round Lake Geneva (Winekeller)
Freddie Mercury statue, Montreux (Winekeller)
Château Crillon, Montreux (Winekeller)
Visit Montreux
The beautiful town of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva is often referred to as the ‘pearl of Lake Geneva’ and is known around the world for its iconic Montreux Jazz Festival, held for 2 weeks every year in July. Here you can visit the famous statue of Freddie Mercury, take a stroll along the lake and visit the old town.
You can also visit the beautiful Château de Chillon, located just outside Montreux on a rocky island on the lake - the most visited historic building in Switzerland and for nearly 4 centuries, the residence of the Counts of Savoy.
Visit Lausanne - the Olympic Capital and a Great Wine Capital
The unique and stunning setting of the vibrant city of Lausanne on Lake Geneva makes visiting worthwhile enough. If you add to that its historic old town ‘La Cité’, a thriving cultural and gastronomic scene, its Olympic Museum and its close proximity to the incredible Lavaux terraced vineyards - it’s a must-visit destination!
The Olympic Capital, Lausanne has been home to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for 100 years and in 1993, the IOC founded its unique official museum on the banks of Lake Geneva. Renovated in 2013, the museum is a must-see attraction in Lausanne. ‘La Cité’ is also well worth exploring, especially its imposing gothic cathedral, which has towered over the city for 8 centuries.
It’s well worth spending time in Lausanne, which is a green city, with plenty of parks to explore and an excellent Metro system which makes getting around the city much easier when you consider that Lausanne was built on 3 hills!
The Lavaux terraced vineyards
A 10 minutes train ride from Switzerland’s ‘Great Wine Capital’, Lausanne and you are in the centre of the Lavaux vineyards.
These UNESCO World Cultural Heritage-listed, steep, terraced vineyards provide some of the most spectacular scenery along the shores of Lake Geneva between Lausanne and Vevey. From spring to late autumn, these vineyards are spectacularly beautiful and spending time there is a truly memorable and an unforgettable experience.
There are lots of ways to experience the incredible Lavaux vineyards, by foot or by bike and sample the wines along the way in the local family-run wineries.
Visit the Joux Valley
The Vallée de Joux in the Jura mountains has been the centre of Swiss watch-making for over 300 years. The Joux valley and the Joux Lake is also an area of unspoilt countryside and scenic beauty, attracting hikers, cyclists and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Lausanne's gothic cathedral (Winekeller)
Lausanne's Olympic Museum (WInekeller)
The famous Lavaux vineyards (WInekeller)
The best way to discover Lake Geneva Switzerland and the Lavaux vineyards in one day - a Lausanne to Montreux cruise and return by bike. The best day and we highly recommend doing this!!