Memorable Wine Tour in the Heart of the 2023 Harvest in Lavaux

A look back in pictures at one of our most delightful wine tours of the year. Touring the vineyards during harvest is a fascinating experience. October is certainly our favorite time to head into the vines and visit wine producers. There’s always so much going on… hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting – all five senses are engaged.

For your safety, the guided tour includes transportation.

Lavaux is a magnificent winegrowing region, and we had the pleasure of planning visits to two outstanding winemakers (“not like the others”) to offer a variety of experiences and tastings of different wines. Our group of Americans was able to make the most of their stay to discover our little corner of paradise and deepen their wine knowledge. They were particularly delighted (and so was I) by the encounter with winemakers who share the fruits of their labor with such passion – and I am deeply grateful to them for the time they devoted to us, their generosity, and the quality of our exchanges.

This wine tour was also an opportunity for them to explore the different biotypes of Chasselas represented at the Chasselas Conservatory in Rivaz (see previous post: https://www.passionnement-vin.com/post/le-conservatoire-mondial-du-chasselas), to taste freshly pressed white grape juice for the first time, to compare different grape varieties during a delicious grape tasting (straight from the winemaker), and to gain a better understanding of agroecology* and its impact on the environment.

Grape tasting: Diolinoir and Pinot Noir

In the afternoon, a second visit to one of the nine wine estates producing organic and biodynamic wines in Lavaux gave them the chance to ask the winemaker questions about the harvest and the quality of the 2023 vintage. A cellar tour provided deeper insight into the winemaking process. To finish, a superb and in-depth comparative tasting of Chasselas from different plots and terroirs, such as Villette, Calamin, and Dézaley – the Grands Crus of Lavaux.

Explaining the terroirs at the foot of the Grand Cru Calamin

What did the client think?

“Visiting a wine estate during harvest offers a unique perspective on the world of wine and allowed us to enjoy a rich experience in the heart of the vineyard. Thank you, Angel, for this fantastic organization.”

* Agroecology is often seen as a response to the environmental and social challenges posed by industrial agriculture, such as biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water pollution, and dependence on chemical inputs. It aims to create more environmentally sustainable farming systems while contributing to food security and the resilience of local communities.