Lavaux Wine Tour
Lavaux Wine Tour > The walls surrounding the vineyards
The walls surrounding the vineyards
Before you lies the ‘fortress of Lavaux’, built to buttress the slopes, retain the soil in the terraces and make it possible to grow vines. This extraordinary network of walls with traditional construction is one of the main reasons for Lavaux’s inclusion on the World Heritage List.
Remarkable as they are, however, the walls are not indestructible, and bear the brunt of increasingly unpredictable weather conditions such as more frequent, intense heatwaves and torrential rain. It’s no accident that the names and labels of Lavaux Grands Crus often refer to these walls as ‘Guardians of the vineyards’.
Taste the wines
The bottles and/or labels of these three wines – and the wines themselves – illustrate this aspect. Usually these wines are sold only at the winegrower’s cellar, but now you can also buy them from the Office des Vins Vaudois online store.
No products!
Taking care of the heritage
The Lavaux vineyard walls – and their upkeep and repair – are the subject of constant care and attention. Everywhere along the trail, you’ll see historic walls interspersed with more recently rebuilt sections. Some walls have even fallen down and are in need of rebuilding. This extremely hard work is undertaken by the winegrowers; as well as maintaining their working environment, they’re committed to preserving one of the most beautiful landscapes in Switzerland.