Wine Tasting in The Swiss Riviera

Although (rightly) famed for its stunning slopes, there is so much more to Switzerland than it’s ski culture. If you are a foodie or oenophile – aka someone who appreciates or collects wine – then a trip to Vaud should be added to the top of your travel bucket list.

It’s a fact lesser known, that the Swiss produce amazing wine. Why lesser known? Well the non-Swiss among us, don’t get much of a chance to actually taste it. Despite Switzerland’s long and storied tradition of wine production, only a teeny tiny 1% of Swiss wine is actually exported. This means that for anyone wishing to try the incredible wine of Switzerland, the best way to do so is to visit ‘The Swiss Riviera’ and experience everything Switzerland’s ‘wine country’ has to offer for yourself.

Where to visit: VAUD – Lausanne, Vevey and Montreaux

The Vaud Canton is known as Switzerland’s ‘Wine Country’. Producing the second highest amount wine in Switzerland, it is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the country’s rich cultural tapestry of gastronomy, historical gems and of course, wine.

Swiss Riviera wine region

There’s also rich tradition hidden within this historic wine region. When compared to the much-visited and well-loved tourist mountain areas of Switzerland, the towns and even the cities within the Swiss Riviera at Vaud offer a gentler pace of life; where you will be surrounded by locals shopping in historic market towns, and authentic eateries where you can sample traditional local dishes. Although tourism is thriving, it still has that beautiful and essentially authentic Swiss feel, all set amongst the most stunning landscapes.

Exploring Lausanne

Swiss Riviera wine region

The city of Lausanne sits on the edge of Lake Geneva and is home to the International Olympic Committee Headquarters. With winding medieval streets and bijou boutiques and eateries, it is the second largest city in French-speaking Switzerland and is a stunningly beautiful place to start your trip.

For more information on Lausanne visit: www.lausanne-tourisme.ch

Where to visit – Mosto Vins

I began my Swiss Riviera wine education with a visit to Mosto Vins. This wine shop specialises in natural wines and features a cool, quirky tasting cellar located below. The Sommelier, Valentin, explained how the natural wine offering is becoming increasingly popular in Lavaux. This is shown by the emergence of stores such as Mosto, which is one of two natural wine shops in Lausanne. Two may seem a small number but their existence at all demonstrates a movement away to a more modern approach to wine consumption in the region.

This is an area where traditionally the locals would visit the vineyards directly to buy, and where families would have one vineyard that they frequented, with an allegiance passed down through generations. In recent years, this is starting to relax with both locals and wine connoisseurs from outside of the country seeking to experience more of the region’s wonderful variety. Valentin expertly guided us through the best natural wines the region has to offer and it was a delightful way to gain knowledge under the Sommelier’s fun yet expert guidance.

Find out more about Mosto and book your own tasting here: www.mostolausanne.com

Location : Rue des Côtes-de-Montbenon 3, 1003 Lausanne +41 21 311 90 00 |

Where to stay – Hôtel de la Paix

If you are looking for a ‘room with a view’ then they don’t come much more spectacular than the glorious lake-view rooms at the Hôtel de la Paix, as this 4 star hotel sits directly overlooking Lake Geneva. The Hôtel de la Paix is luxurious with an unforgettable panorama of the lake, and of Swiss Alps that can be admired day and night from the bays of the reception hall or the terraces that run along the façade of the establishment. It’s positioned perfectly for exploring Lausanne and is a few minutes walk from the train station, the lake, and the lively Swiss Riviera Flon district.

Location: Av. Benjamin-Constant 5, 1003 Lausanne

Book your room here: www.hoteldelapaix.net

Vevey and Montreux

In a natural next step on my adventure to discover more about Swiss wine, I headed to the waterfront towns of Vevey and Montreux.

Vevey, is the ideal base from which to explore the Lavaux wine region and is famous of being the final home of Charlie Chaplin, (the ‘Chaplin’s World’ attraction is fascinating and well worth a visit if you have time – see info below), and also for hosting the Fête des Vignerons festival of wine. This happens around every 20-25 years, with the last one taking place in 2019. In honour of the festival, an arena seating over 20,000 is specially constructed, and an Olympic style celebration ensues. A celebration of this scale speaks volumes about how seriously Vevey takes its relationship with wine.

Where to visit:

To delve even deeper into the history of the Swiss Riviera, take a ten minute train ride from Vevey to arrive in Grandvaux village, the home of Maison Lavaux and the Lavaux Vineyards.

Lavaux Vineyards

Maison Lavaux has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007 and features the sprawling and vertiginous Lavaux vineyards, which are as fascinating as they are beautiful to behold, overlooked as they are by the lake and towering ranges of the Alps. The vine terraces themselves date back to the 11th century, created during the administration of the Benedictine and Cistercian monks. The soil is a mixture of clay and limestone and it is the ‘Chasselas’ grape which is the main grape variety grown here. The soil in the Lavaux region is extremely unique, making it an ideal location for wine production.

The vineyard’s grapes produce distinctive dry white wines which I had the pleasure of tasting at the end of the tour. Dry white wine happens to a personal favourite type of mine, so this wine tasting at the Domaine de la Crausaz was a true highlight of the trip and one I would highly recommend. The Guided Tour of Lavaux took around 1 hour and 15 minutes and was a fascinating discovery of the vineyard’s history, landscape and winegrowers’ work.

Find out more here: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-gb/experiences/maison-lavaux/

Chillion Castle

Chillon Castle, also known as Château de Chillon, is a castle nestled on the shoreline of Lake Geneva, located on the shore between Montreux and Villeneuve at the lake’s eastern end. This is Switzerland’s most visited medieval castle and it’s not hard to see why. It is something really special with stunning views and ancient architecture. The castle is set in literary history through the works of the Poet Lord Byron. His poem called The Prisoner of Chillon was supposedly based on Francois de Bonivard, a monk whose chain and rut are still visible today in the prison. If you’re visiting the area, Chillion Castle is a must-add to your itinerary.

Location : Château de Chillon Avenue de Chillon 23, 1820 Veytaux

To book a tour, visit: www.chillon.ch

Chaplins World

Swiss Riviera wine region

A visit to the neoclassical Manoir House where the man who made millions laugh – Charlie Chaplin – spent the final 25 years of his life, wasn’t initially on the top of my ‘must-visit’ list. However after a couple of hours in the unusually inventive large-scale exhibition, I would very much recommend a visit. Chaplin’s world shows the history of Chaplin’s work, life and family in an original and interactive way spanning original works, visual guides, statues and artwork. You’ll wander through the sets of his greatest films in a Hollywood-style studio and get a real sense of his final year through exploring his sprawling three-storied house, filled with personal belongings and intriguing mementos. It’s easy to see why he chose the Swiss Riviera to live out his later years.

Location : Chaplin’s World, Route de Fenil 2, CH-1804 Corsier Sur, Vevey

Book your tickets here: https://www.chaplinsworld.com/en

Where to eat – Ze Fork

Ze Fork’s location is impeccable, with a terrace which overlooks Quai Perdonnet, the lake and a giant fork situated in the lake. This iconic fork gives the restaurant its name and is the emblem of Vevey. The restaurant’s signature is themed plates, centred around the lake and the vegetable garden and has a rotating and seasonal menu. I tried the restaurant’s specialty; steak and it was a delight. Each dish by Head Chef Matthias Ugolini was carefully considered and a joy to consume. Just be sure to book in early as table’s go quickly in this rightly ever-popular Vevey restaurant.

Book your table here: https://www.zefork.ch/

Where to stay – Hôtel Astra

Hôtel Astra is a four star hotel located in the centre of the city, very conveniently positioned right by the train station. The rooms are sleek, modern and comfortable, and the Historical Brasserie La Coupole 1912 and the Lobby Bar and Lounge mean you don’t even need to leave to leave the hotel for delicious food. There is also a panoramic spa and fitness suite.

Location: Place de la Gare 4, 1800 Vevey https://astra-hotel.ch/en/

For more information on Vaud as a destination visit: https://www.myvaud.ch/en/

Review and images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington

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