Awesome Autumn in the Swiss Vineyards

This blog post is to showcase a fantastic place where I live and to show you what it looks like in Autumn! The Lavaux vineyard region is breathtaking. I believe the best time to visit is in Autumn when all the colors of the vines explode and the grapes are fully grown.

Keep scrolling to see my photos while experiencing an AWESOME AUTUMN IN THE SWISS VINEYARDS!

So where is this beautiful place, you ask? The Lavaux (pronounced ‘lavo’ in French) wine region is located on Lake Geneva (also called Lac Léman) between Lausanne and Montreux.

The shape of the hillside was formed by the Rhone glacier over 15,000 years ago. The terraced vineyards were created in the 12th century by Benedictine and Cistercian monks. Since then, the vineyards have been carefully cultivated by wine growing families. Some wineries have been owned by more than 20 generations.

Switzerland isn’t known for being a wine-producing country as its production is only one million hectolitres per year. There is no comparison with its neighboring countries of France and Italy. France is the biggest wine producer in the world with an annual 41 million hectolitres.

Lavaux is one of the largest wine growing areas in Switzerland. The area is 830 hectares (2051 acres) and 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) long. The highest vineyards are 350 meters (1150 feet) above the lake. The Lavaux terraced vineyards are some of the steepest in the world.

The reason why the Lavaux area is ideal for wine growing is due to what they call the ‘three suns’: the actual sun, the sun rays reflected by the lake, and the warmth of the stone walls throughout the vineyards.

So what kind of wines are produced in this area? The primary grape variety is the Chasselas, a crisp white wine consisting of dry and fruity aromas. The Chasselas wine makes up for 90 percent of white wines in Lavaux. The Chasselas wine generally goes by the name ‘Fendant’ throughout the country and is often served with cheese fondue and raclette.

Although you will find some red wines here (Pinot Noir and Gamay), 80 percent of the region produces white wines. Don’t expect to find these wines outside of Switzerland because at least 95% of the production is consumed locally.

The best way to see the Lavaux is by foot or bike. There are several wide paths that stretch across the vineyards and offer spectacular views of the lake and mountains.

Below is a map of one of the Lavaux routes that you can walk or bike. You can start in the town of Chexbres and total walking time is 4 to 5 hours. Find more details about this walk and others on this website.

Other than walking through the vineyards to enjoy the scenery, there are other fun things to do. One interesting place to visit is the Vinorama. OK, I admit I’ve never been there but I definitely need to check it out one day. It’s basically a museum to learn about the Lavaux vineyards, its history, and topography. They have a tasting menu of over 300 local wines.

Although I’ve never taken it, there is a small tourist train which offers different tours of the vineyards (more info found here). This option would save you from walking but still provide a way to experience the vineyards up close.

Another must-do activity is to visit the different wineries and do wine tasting. There are 200 wineries to choose from! You can try to plan the winery visits on your own, but your best bet is to book a guided tour. There are many different types of tours including individual guides or group tours. You can find more info about tours on this website.

So, when is the best time to visit Lavaux? I am convinced the best time to see this area is Autumn! The reason is that the grapes are fully grown and the vine leaves change color from green to bright yellow, orange, and red. If you visit in Autumn, you will want to come before the harvest starts.

The harvest time peaks in October when many people from all over Europe come to work for a few weeks to pick the grapes. The hills are so steep that grapes can’t be harvested with machinery but must be picked by hand. The workers are also given food and lodging while here.

Although I think Autumn is the best time to see the Lavaux vineyards, I included this region as one of my favorite places to visit in Springtime in my blog post ‘Spring in Switzerland‘. You won’t find grapes but you can see the snow-covered mountains in the backdrop of the vineyards.

Are you interested now to see what some people say is the most beautiful vineyard area in the world? You should know that Lavaux was selected to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2007. Therefore, it is protected from any development and should remain as pure and pristine as it currently is. I feel lucky to live here. Lavaux is only a 10-minute drive from my home.

If you are looking for accommodations in this region, just click here to search. As an affiliate of BOOKING.COM, I may receive a small commission when you book using this link.

If you are looking for assistance to plan your next trip, I am here for YOU! I love to plan travel itineraries for myself and others. For more details on how I provide this service, please check out my Itinerary Planning page and drop me a quick email at jan@janadventures.com to get started!

If you are looking for other ideas on what to see in Switzerland, you will want to see my other posts below!

• Best Gorge Hikes in Switzerland
• Want to know the Secret Spots in Switzerland?
• Cool Things to See in Flims Switzerland
• Spring in Switzerland
• Biking the Heart Route in Switzerland
• 9 Activities Not To Miss in Switzerland
• 3 Day Itinerary in Ticino Switzerland
• 5 Lakes Walk in Zermatt Switzerland – a Must-Do!
• 9 Top Spots near Interlaken Switzerland
• E-Biking in Switzerland
• Discover Adelboden Switzerland in Summer
• What to See in Meiringen Switzerland
• Unexpected Excursions in Lugano
• Best of Appenzell Switzerland
• Awesome Autumn in the Swiss Vineyards
• Schynigge Platte Things to Do
• 2 Days in Basel Switzerland
• Pizol 5 Lakes Hike
• Switzerland Destination Page

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