Top 100 wines of Vaud - Page 5
Discover the top 100 best wines of Vaud as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Vaud and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Vaud is Switzerland's second-largest wine region, located in the French-speaking southwest. The region - which is also one of 26 cantons in the country - is best known for its crisp, white Fendant wines (the national name for the Chasselas variety) and its stunning lakeside landscapes.
Both of these reach their zenith in the grand crus of Lavaux/dezaley">Dezaley and Calamin. These famous Lavaux Vineyard terraces, which rise steeply up above Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), are considered of such importance that they are now enjoy protected status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The main Vaud vineyard area arches broadly around Lake Geneva from La Côte, west of Lausanne, via Lavaux (between Lausanne and Montreux to the east) to Chablais, which runs from the lake's edge into the steep-sided Rhone river valley - the gateway to the Valais.
North of the lake are a handful of satellite viticultural areas around Lake Neuchâtel, bordering the Neuchatel - Three Lakes area, and along the banks of the Orbe river - grouped into the Côtes de l'Orbe and BonvillarsAOC/AOPs.
Vaud is thus flanked by three key Swiss wine regions: Geneva (at the end of the lake to the southwest), Neuchâtel (to the north) and Valais (to the southeast). Just across the Jura Mountains, which form the canton's western edge (the Swiss border with France) is the French portion of the Jura.
Unusually among Swiss wine regions, Vaud produces more white wine than red. Two-thirds of production here is to white wine with the lion's share given over to Fendant/Chasselas, covering just over 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) in the canton - 60 percent of its area.
Other than Chasselas, Pinot Noir and Gamay are the next in line in terms of vineyard area, making up just over 20 percent of vineyard area together. Of the two, Pinot Noir is the more popular, boasting 480 hectares (1,100 acres) compared to Gamay's 350 (860 acres).
White Riesling is a grape variety that originated in France (Alsace). It produces a variety of grape specially used for the elaboration of wine. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches, and small grapes. White Riesling can be found in many vineyards: Alsace, Loire Valley, Languedoc & Roussillon, Lorraine, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley, Savoie & Bugey, Beaujolais, South West.
wines from the region of Vaud go well with generally quite well with dishes of poultry, lean fish or mild and soft cheese such as recipes of chicken pie, quick brandade or pela savoyarde.
The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...
The largest-ever year for entries, an incredible 18,244 wines were judged at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards – with just 163 wines awarded a Platinum medal. ‘Winning a Platinum medal is something really exceptional’ said Decanter World Wine Awards Co-Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW. ‘Platinum is like the stratospheric level’ she commented, ‘so it’s really saying to the winemaker: this is a great wine.’ Making up just 0.87% of the total wines tasted at the 2022 c ...
In the UK wine calendar, wine merchants concentrate on selling certain regions at the same time every year. For Burgundy, it’s January; Bordeaux starts in April. Others, like the Rhône, aren’t quite so specific, but merchants do seem to agree that autumn is the right time to turn their attention to this part of France. Following a number of Rhône-focused tastings, and with my full report on the 2021s coming out soon, I have tasted and rated wines that are available to buy in the UK now and my re ...