Autumn in Lavaux vineyards
Switzerland may not produce the best known wines in the world, but it certainly boasts one of the most evocative wine areas in Europe.
Lake Geneva, or de Lausanne, or Leman, depending on the source from which you have heard of this beautiful stretch of water, is impressive in every season, with its not too gentle slopes sometimes overlooking the water, sometimes interrupted by rural villages or famous towns, with the rugged mountain peaks in the background and the scenic roads through the vineyards.
During fall this valley becomes a spectacle of colours of rare beauty. Part of the northern shore of the lake, a short stretch of coastline from Vevey to Lutry, is literally invaded by vineyards. The motorway crosses this forest of vine rows into a few tunnels, but already offers a splendid view of the crops, which invite you to go out at the first exit and take the secondary roads. The coastal road that crosses the lake towns also offers beautiful views of the vineyards above it, as does the panoramic train route besides it. Taking the secondary routes, however, you can cross the plots of land where the vines grow in the warm climate mitigated by the lake. These roads wind through the stone walls that border the crops, beautiful rural villages, wineries and chateaux where you can stop to taste the local products.
And in autumn the whole landscape shines with a golden aura that contrasts with the deep light blue of the lake. The vineyards are painted in yellow and red and these neat stretches of golden rows follow one another as far as the eye can see. The autumn mist surrounds the villages, covers the waters of the lake and offers an incredible view unfolding in front of the observer while walking through the crops.
You can take the dirt roads and steps that climb through the vineyards, and walk freely between the vines, where the scent of wine must permeates the air after harvesting. The area of Lutry and Grandvaux is characterized by hills that descend more gently towards the lake, and walking through the vineyards you have a beautiful view of the fields. Proceeding towards Chexbres and Vevey, the coast becomes harsher, with vineyards jutting out over the lake, but here too a panoramic pedestrian road offers an exceptional view.
The ideal time for this autumn hike to the UNESCO heritage site Terrasses de Lavaux is at the end of October, ideally the last two weeks, when the late Swiss summer still offers magnificent sunny days, the leaves are goldened but still firm on the shoots and the autumn fog is not yet too dense.
