Lavaux is one of Switzerland's most beautiful regions, spoiled by nature, among other historical, scientific, sporting, wine tourism and even artistic attractions.
Lavaux owes its splendor to the retreat of the Rhône glacier and the Cistercian monks who, in the 12th century, built kilometers of walls and terraces that are still carefully maintained by today's winegrowers. These craftsmen produce excellent wines, matured by three suns: the sun of day, the reverberation of Lake Geneva and the heat given off by the walls at night. Visiting epicureans will delight in tasting Chasselas, Pinot Noir and other grape varieties labelled by three Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées.
Before it was recognized by UNESCO in 2007, this harmony between man and nature was already attracting contemplative walkers and inspired artists.
The vineyard benefits fully from the generosity of the sun, thanks to the very favorable orientation of the slope. The heat accumulated in the walls and that reflected by the lake in September also contribute to optimal grape ripeness. A fine example of a man-made landscape, Lavaux clings its vineyards to the slope, between sky and lake. The vines are not an element of the landscape, but rather the landscape itself, thanks to the countless walls that make up the dozens of superimposed terraces.
Highly influenced by the lake, which moderates temperature variations, Lavaux's climate is warm in summer, but not excessively dry. In winter, however, the climate is sometimes harsh, alternating between cold and thawing periods. The average annual temperature is close to 10 degrees. While it can drop to -7 degrees in January or February, the thermometer reads 25 degrees or more for 30 to 60 days every summer. The westerly wind brings humidity from the Atlantic, while the northeasterly breezes bring stable, dry weather.
The Lavaux landscape is like a geological book that opens onto a few stages in the life of our planet. 30 million years old, the molasse in the subsoil borders slightly more recent banks of pudding and marl. These banks criss-cross the vineyard and form its skeleton. However, it was the ice ages that were to determine the landscape. These repeated phenomena began 2 million years ago and ended 10,000 years ago, leaving clearly visible traces. In particular, the Rhône glacier carved out the trough of Lake Geneva and deposited its moraines.
We owe the shaping of these steep terraces, a jewel of the world's natural heritage, to the work of the Cistercian monks. Established at the Abbey of Haut-Crêt, near Oron, these fervent and industrious monks undertook, at the request of the Bishop of Lausanne, a major task of clearing the uncultivated land in this part of the country. From 1141 onwards, and for almost two centuries to come, it was their tireless efforts that forged the magnificent silhouette of the Dézaley vineyards, located in the heart of Lavaux, where slopes sometimes reach 40°.
We are proud to work in this sumptuous but no less capricious vineyard handed down to us by our ancestors. For us, “family” and “tradition” are not empty words. Let us tell you our story.
