Wine growing and tourism in Lavaux

With its exceptional landscape, Lavaux UNESCO has been built by and for wine producers. More than 400 km of walls support 10,000 terraces on 40 levels. Ensuring stability and an integral part of the landscape, the walls also play a big part in caring for the vines. In Lavaux, it is said that the grapes benefit from three suns: the sun, the heat stored by the walls and the reflection of the rays by the lake. The grapes profit from these ideal conditions in the eight wine producing locations: Villette, Epesses, St-Saphorin, Chardonne, Lutry, Vevey-Montreux, Dézaley Grand Cru and Calamin Grand Cru. The “Grands Crus” are “Appellations d'origine controlée” (AOC), like the Lavaux AOC. In a total area of 830 ha, approximately 200 wine growers prefer to cultivate the Chasselas white grape variety.

Lavaux has been a popular destination since the beginning of tourism in Switzerland. Its many marked trails delight walkers, who also take the CGN boats and tourist train. The food-loving visitor will welcome the growing number of wine tourism offers, composed of tastings, experiences and stays in the homes of wine producers.