Vaud

Vaud

The canton of Vaud, an exceptional winemaking region

In the canton of Vaud, gastronomy and winegrowing are both art forms of the highest standing. With vineyards spanning almost 4,000 hectares divided into six regions and offering no less than eight appellations d’origine contrôlée (AOCs), it is one of the most important winegrowing areas in Switzerland.

La Côte, which already accounts for half of Vaud’s vineyards, the Lavaux terraces, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Chablais region, which spreads its vines along the shores of Lake Geneva. The Côtes de l’Orbe, the oldest wine-growing region in Switzerland, are situated to the north, while the vineyards of Bonvillars and Vully lie either side of Lake Neuchâtel.

Although Pinot noir and Gamay sometimes steal the show locally, Chasselas is undeniably the star of the ‘Pays de Vaud’. The resulting white wine is crisp and fruity and perfect as an aperitif, goes very well with Etivaz and Vacherin Mont-d’Or and is an ideal accompaniment for fillets of perch, trout and fera from Lake Geneva.

Easily identifiable thanks to the ‘Vaud Œnotourisme’ label and driven by a keen sense of hospitality and friendliness, professionals specialising in wine, restaurant, tourism and local produce offer a wide range of wine tourism activities aimed at promoting their region, with walks, tastings, guided tours, train journeys or gourmet cruises. And the icing on the cake? The excellence of regional products and the know-how of award-winning chefs combined to create an incredible diversity of restaurants. Something to delight all gourmets!