It's been raining for days and the forecast was cloudy, but here was a free sunday to take advantage of. I walked hungover to the station to meet some friends and take a 10-15min train ride east of Lausanne. Trains come every half hour so I also had time to pickup a croissant au amande :) - also, there's a thing called a Half Pass in Switzerland where once you upload it onto your phone, you swipe to start a trip and it tracks/pays for the cheapest ticket at half price.
A UNESCO world heritage site, the Lavaux wine terraces are gorgeous even on a cloudy day. The south facing wine terraces in between the cities of Lausanne and Montreux sit along Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). The Lavaux region is split up into smaller appellations of Lutry, Villete, Epesses, Saint-Saphorin, Chardonne, and Vevey-Montreux. What's amazing about this region is once you get off at Bossiere station, there's wine paths along the various vineyards, towns, and appellations. The Swiss 'hike', can be done in 3-4 hours if one does not stop at the number of terrace restaurants, fromageries, and/or benches that overlook the lake and the Swiss alps.
As we walked through the vineyards, we couldn't help think that what a beautiful site this would be once the vines were blooming, grown, or fading away in the fall. Luckily, I'll make several trips here since its only 30min door-to-door. During covid (and usually sundays), the vineyards are closed. Luckily for us, the vineyards have adapted to covid restrictions and have made little stores throughout the terraces. One can pick up a bottle, scan a QR code or pay cash, and plastic flutes were ready for a pour on your way to the next vineyard. Once things are open, this is going to be one hell of a wine tour.
Chasselas. The grape of Switzerland. A white variety that is neutral on a lot of aspects. A neutral wine you ask, why? The best way to think about it is fondue. What goes best with a rich, creamy, fondue - a neutral wine that brings out the incredible cheese of Switzerland. I have a hard time pinning down what this wine is similar to, but think of a subdued dry riesling crossed with a pinot gris. I'm still working on my wine, so bear with me here. Chasselas when it hits the palette starts off with a delicate crisp apple which almost has a sense of sparkling and acidic, but quite the opposite. Some of the bottles I've had have hints of lemon/lime mixed with some floral notes. The easiest way to think about Chasselas is easy drinking, pairs perfectly with cheese, and will forever remind me of Switzerland.
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