📍 Vaud
The second-largest wine canton, by Lake Geneva, the realm of Chasselas.
Vaud is a wine canton in western Switzerland on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. By size it is the country's second wine canton. The main role here is played by the Chasselas grape, which makes light, fresh white wines. They express the taste of place well, so locals value them.
The canton divides into several districts. Lavaux comprises terraced vineyards above the lake, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. La Côte lies further west, nearer Geneva. Chablais lies in the south, at the border with Valais. There are also Côtes de l'Orbe and Bonvillars. Wines differ slightly in each district.
Besides Chasselas, Vaud grows red grapes: Pinot Noir, Gamay, and the local Garanoir, Gamaret and Doral, bred in Switzerland. The lake softens the climate: it reflects sunlight like a mirror and holds warmth longer.
Swiss wines are seldom exported, because most are drunk in the country. Vaud is one of the places where wine is closely tied to the landscape.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Vaud ← grows in ← 🍇 Gamay → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🗺️ Swiss wine
- Grapes
- 🍇 Chasselas, 🍇 Garanoir, 🍇 Gamaret, 🍇 Doral, 🍇 Pinot Noir, 🍇 Gamay
Frequently asked questions
What is Vaud?
A wine canton in Switzerland on Lake Geneva, second in size.
What is Vaud's main grape?
Chasselas, which makes light white wines.
Which districts does Vaud have?
Lavaux, La Côte, Chablais, Côtes de l'Orbe and Bonvillars.
What to read next
- 🍇 Pinot Noir — A famous red grape from Burgundy, France, giving light, elegant wines and Champagne.
- 🍇 Gamay — A red wine grape used to make Beaujolais.
- 🍇 Gamaret — Red Swiss grape crossed in 1970 from Gamay and Reichensteiner at the Changins research station.
- 🍇 Garanoir — Dark-skinned wine grape from Switzerland; parents Gamay Noir × Reichensteiner; 4 synonyms in VIVC.
- 🍇 Doral — A white Swiss grape from 1965, from Chasselas and Chardonnay.
Similar
📍 Geneva · 📍 Valais · 📍 Three Lakes · 📍 Ticino · 📍 German-speaking Switzerland · 📍 Côtes de l'Orbe