3-day wine tour Geneve and Lavaux, Switzerland

Program

DAY 1: ARRIVAL GENEVA – SWITZERLAND (D)

Today you will arrive in the second largest city in Switzerland, Geneva or the “Capital of Peace” as it is called thanks to the location of the European headquarters of the United Nations. Another well-deserved name for this city with a humanitarian tradition, international organizations and cosmopolitan flair. It is also the world’s smallest metropolis. Quays, lakeside promenades, parks, elegant shops, lively streets and alleys in the old part of the city are waiting to be discovered. Boat trips beckon on the lake and the Rhone River. The Alps seem close enough to touch. Geneva is a small metropolis but beautiful city surrounded by untouched nature and breath-taking landscapes.

After arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. After check-in at your hotel, you will be expected in one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the city with a view of Lake Geneva and its fountain. After this you are expected for dinner in a wine restaurant.

Overnight.

DAY 2 – GENEVA – LAVAUX – GENEVA (B)

The Lavaux wine terraces stretch for about 30 km along the southern shores of Lake Geneva, from the Château de Chillon, just south of Montreux, to the eastern edge of Lausanne in the heart of the Vaud region. The steep, narrow terraces with stone walls cover the lower slopes of the mountainside between the villages and the edge of the lake. Above are forests and pasture and across the lake you can see the high peaks of the Alps. The chalky limestone soils and the pleasant climate, enhanced by the sun reflecting off the lake and the stone terrace walls, are ideal for the production of Chasselas grapes.

While there is some evidence that vines were grown in the areas in Roman times, the origins of the current wine terraces can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries ruled this area.

Lavaux has always been a highly valued wine region and has been monitored and developed to optimize returns for monasteries, cantons or wealthy owners. The landscape of villages, small towns and intensively planted vines reflects the changing system of production and protection over ten centuries. It is now a functioning and flourishing landscape that has been adapted to allow for partially mechanized production. Extensive remnants of houses, mills, fortified towers and much of the landscape structure provide a comprehensive reflection of the way wine production has evolved during that time.

Return to Geneva and overnight at your hotel.

DAY 3 – SIGHTSEEING GENEVA AND DEPARTURE SWITZERLAND (B)

After breakfast you will explore Geneva. Lake Geneva is one of the city’s greatest assets. The famous “Jet d’eau”, or “Geneva fountain”, sprays a column of water from the lake up to 130 meters into the air. On a clear day you can even see Mont Blanc. As you walk along the quays along the lake, you pass beautiful flower beds. On the right bank you can see the Brunswick monument with the tomb of Charles II, Duke of Brunswick. Further along the quay is the Pâquis jetty with its lighthouse and public baths. Cross the Mont-Blanc Bridge to the left bank and don’t miss the Jardin Anglais (English Garden). Here you’ll find the famous flower clock, reflecting Geneva’s interest in watchmaking and the National Monument commemorating Geneva joining the rest of Switzerland in 1815. One of the main attractions of Geneva is the beautiful old town. Art enthusiasts can wander here at ease through the many beautiful art galleries and the shops’ authentic treasures will overwhelm Antique Hunters.

In the late afternoon or early evening and depending on your flight times, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.