I had wanted to walk in Lavaux all year and finally got some time allocated for it. Originally planned as a training walk for South Korean trip, I did not manage to gather enough people to walk from St Saphorin to Lutry. Instead, A&S and K picked me up and we drove to Chexbres, a small village in Lavaux bordering St Saphorin and Dezaley. I was coming to enjoy some lovely landscape and the weather was just perfectly sunny and pleasant 20-24C to painlessly walk for hours.
It was very impressive to see so many labels of wines in some vineyards. I could not even identify some of them, since I am a novice when it comes to wines. We encountered 2-3 groups of 60 year olds, finishing a visit and a tasting, and some individual walkers as well. The path was so clear and wide and every angle gave a beautiful view: a view of plunging vineyards into the lake, and the Alps across the water; looking back there were more vineyards, small houses and blue sky adorned with fluffy little clouds. Old villages in small islands of concrete and rocks provided the odd ringing bells, and the water was echoing the shouts of the rowing club practicing a race on the lake.
One intriguing sight was that of the many roses blooming beautifully amidst the green vines. A touch of colour (red, orange, pale pink), a faint sweet fragrance in the air, and one could feel at peace. In fact, rose plants are used as early indicator of disease or infection, so they are also tended to meticulously.
As we advanced toward Vevey, which we could see early on, we mainly went downhill. Then we took a sharp right turn and ended up closer to the water, following the signs for Bacchus, a promise of wine tasting. We were getting thirsty, with all the yummy grapes we saw and could not eat. Eventually, we found Bacchus, and lamented about the other cellars that seemed to be already closed for the day, or for the lunch break. We took a seat overlooking the vineyard of the shop owner, and tasted St Saphorin and Dezaley, since we were right in between.
I really liked the St Saphorin, with it's lightness and floral after taste. Maybe I was really thirsty and it was the first wine we tasted. The Dezaley was heavier and had a metallic feel to it. We snacked on tomme cheese and saucisson, and were kicked out at 14:00 since they normally close at 13:00...
So we walked down another 300m, admiring the group taking a dive in the lake across the street, and we arrived at Vinorama, another wine tasting spot where you could taste for free, and watch a lovely video for 10min, narrating a year out of a diary of a local wine maker. This time, we tasted a dessert wine, and just the name itself was poetic enough to make anyone buy it. The dessert wines I saw were called perles d'amour, larmes du soleil, etc...
We could stay for hours gazing at the symphony of light playing on the lake, but we still had to climb back up to the car. We drank the 3 L water I was carrying around, and started to climb the steep stairs we used as shortcuts. I only paused 3 times: to take my breath after panting, then to look back at the view which just took my breath away again. I also realized I did not wear any deodorant that day, so I was trying to keep to the shades. I managed to keep up with them 3 somehow, only lagging 20m behind...My excuse was that I was carrying 3 bottles of wine I bought at Vinorama.
We made it safely tot he car, and cooled down with the wind on the way back, along the shores of the Leman. It was a satisfying day out, and I found a new place to enjoy a poetic walk, calling it fondly my not so distant backyard.
It was very impressive to see so many labels of wines in some vineyards. I could not even identify some of them, since I am a novice when it comes to wines. We encountered 2-3 groups of 60 year olds, finishing a visit and a tasting, and some individual walkers as well. The path was so clear and wide and every angle gave a beautiful view: a view of plunging vineyards into the lake, and the Alps across the water; looking back there were more vineyards, small houses and blue sky adorned with fluffy little clouds. Old villages in small islands of concrete and rocks provided the odd ringing bells, and the water was echoing the shouts of the rowing club practicing a race on the lake.
One intriguing sight was that of the many roses blooming beautifully amidst the green vines. A touch of colour (red, orange, pale pink), a faint sweet fragrance in the air, and one could feel at peace. In fact, rose plants are used as early indicator of disease or infection, so they are also tended to meticulously.
As we advanced toward Vevey, which we could see early on, we mainly went downhill. Then we took a sharp right turn and ended up closer to the water, following the signs for Bacchus, a promise of wine tasting. We were getting thirsty, with all the yummy grapes we saw and could not eat. Eventually, we found Bacchus, and lamented about the other cellars that seemed to be already closed for the day, or for the lunch break. We took a seat overlooking the vineyard of the shop owner, and tasted St Saphorin and Dezaley, since we were right in between.
I really liked the St Saphorin, with it's lightness and floral after taste. Maybe I was really thirsty and it was the first wine we tasted. The Dezaley was heavier and had a metallic feel to it. We snacked on tomme cheese and saucisson, and were kicked out at 14:00 since they normally close at 13:00...
So we walked down another 300m, admiring the group taking a dive in the lake across the street, and we arrived at Vinorama, another wine tasting spot where you could taste for free, and watch a lovely video for 10min, narrating a year out of a diary of a local wine maker. This time, we tasted a dessert wine, and just the name itself was poetic enough to make anyone buy it. The dessert wines I saw were called perles d'amour, larmes du soleil, etc...
We could stay for hours gazing at the symphony of light playing on the lake, but we still had to climb back up to the car. We drank the 3 L water I was carrying around, and started to climb the steep stairs we used as shortcuts. I only paused 3 times: to take my breath after panting, then to look back at the view which just took my breath away again. I also realized I did not wear any deodorant that day, so I was trying to keep to the shades. I managed to keep up with them 3 somehow, only lagging 20m behind...My excuse was that I was carrying 3 bottles of wine I bought at Vinorama.
We made it safely tot he car, and cooled down with the wind on the way back, along the shores of the Leman. It was a satisfying day out, and I found a new place to enjoy a poetic walk, calling it fondly my not so distant backyard.
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