Featured product
Chasselas: the king of grapes
An emblematic grape from French-speaking Switzerland, Chasselas is thought to have originated in the 17th century around the shores of Lake Geneva. Representing 25% of the Swiss wine-growing territory (OFAG, L’année viticole 2021), it is today the most cultivated white grape variety in the country. Truly a chameleon, it reveals the characteristics of the different terroirs, which vary greatly from one region to another.
The soils and microclimates of Lavaux give Chasselas its delicate aromas. If it is so elegant, it is said that it is because it benefits from three suns: the one that shines generously until the harvest, the one that reverberates in the clear waters of the lake and the one stored by the walls of the terraces. The three appellations – Lavaux AOC, Calamin AOC and Dézaley AOC – produce exceptional wines, both dry and fruity, which can be found on the best tables in Switzerland.
Tastings, guided tours, walks in the vineyard or evenings dining out: let yourself be charmed by this emblematic wine in the very heart of its birthplace.
SUBTLE CHASSELAS. Taste this wine from the Vaud region!
Additional information
Plan your visits
What is Chasselas?
Lavaux, vignoble en terrasses
During the last ice age (about 13’000 BCE), the Rhone glacier marked the landscape with its moraines. The steep hills gradually became overgrown, preventing agriculture from developing. As early as the 11th century, however, Cistercian monks began to clear the wild hills to grow vines. To support and level the land, levelled walls were built, gradually forming the characteristic terraces of the Lavaux vineyards that plunge steeply into Lake Geneva. The cultivation of the vineyard was then delegated to laymen, who oversaw the maintaining of the landscapes and the vineyard.
Since then, many generations of winegrowing families have followed, each contributing to shaping this exceptional site with their hands. With its 10,000 terraces, its wine trails and its typical villages, Lavaux retains an unparalleled authenticity and richness. In 2007, the site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a perfect example of the harmony between the natural landscape and the work of man.
Main steps for the elaboration of a white wine
Several stages constitute the process of elaboration of wine. Depending on the type of wine (red, white, rosé, sweet, sparkling), these steps may vary. We will focus on the main steps for the elaboration of a white wine, as that is how Chasselas is vinified.
- Harvesting: the grapes are picked at optimum maturity – that is, they must contain enough sugar to reach fermentation but not too much sugar, in order to maintain enough acidity. This maturity will differ according to the grape variety. While white wine is most often made from white grapes, it can also be made from dark grapes.
- Destemming and crushing: after harvesting the grapes in the vineyard, the berries are separated from the bunches (entirely or partially). They are then burst in order to release the juice: this is called foulage, or mashing. These steps are not mandatory.
- Skin maceration: the crushed berries can then be placed in a tank for a few hours to macerate in order to extract the maximum of aromas from the skins. This step is only done with white grapes, as darker grapes would colour the juice. This step is also optional.
- Pressing: after the harvest, it is also possible to place the whole bunches of grapes directly into the press to recover the juice. This is certainly the most delicate step, because if the grapes are pressed too much, the seeds, skins and stalks may leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth. The juice obtained is called the “must”.
- The settling: The must is put in a tank. As it still contains many solid particles, this phase consists in removing them to clarify the liquid.
- Alcoholic fermentation: The yeasts (natural or added) feed on the sugar contained in the must, which will release alcohol and CO2. The more sugar there is, the more alcohol there is. This chemical transformation takes about 10 days.
- Maturing: This stage will allow the wine to stabilize and develop. It can last from a few weeks to several months. The aging can be done in a tank (stainless steel, concrete) or in a barrel. Maturing in vats is mainly used for white wines to be drunk young, while maturing in barrels allows to obtain more powerful white wines to be aged. This type of maturation gives rise to a second fermentation: the “malolactic fermentation”.
- Bottling: this is the last step before the wine is marketed (and tasted)!
History of Chasselas
Chasselas has its origins in the Lake Geneva region. It is an old indigenous grape variety, emblematic of French-speaking Switzerland. Its first written mention dates back to 1612 in Lausanne. Although it fell a bit out of fashion in the 1900s, Chasselas is still the most widely planted white grape variety in Switzerland. For several years now, it has been promoted locally and nationally, as shown by the Mondial du Chasselas in June.
Chasselas and Fendant: the same thing?
In 1612, Chasselas appeared under the name of Fendant. In the canton of Vaud, it is eventually renamed by the names of the appellations or the wine-producing villages. In 1848, this Fendant vaudois is introduced in Valais where it keeps its original name. Since 1966, the use of the term Fendant is exclusively applied to Valais.
Chasselas and Fendant are therefore the same grape variety!
Important dates to remember
12th century: Several convents clear the hills of Lavaux to plant vines. Little by little, walls are built until they form the characteristic terraces of the Lavaux vineyard.
17th century: Chasselas, also called Fendant, is cultivated in the Lake Geneva area.
19th century: Chasselas is the most cultivated grape variety in French-speaking Switzerland, particularly in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva and Neuchâtel. In 1848, it was introduced in the canton of Valais under the name of Fendant.
2007: Lavaux is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Association Lavaux Patrimoine Mondial is created the same year.
2010: Lavaux Vinorama is born in Rivaz.
2021: Maison Lavaux is inaugurated in Grandvaux.
Association Lavaux Patrimoine mondial
The main mission of the Association Lavaux Patrimoine mondial is to manage and coordinate the preservation and enhancement of the integrity and authenticity of the “Lavaux, vignoble en terrasses” site in order to guarantee the maintenance of its World Heritage listing obtained in 2007.
This long-term work is done in close collaboration with representatives of federal and cantonal institutions, public authorities, the wine industry, tourism, culture, society, and academia.
It also ensures the link and the exchanges between all the populations evolving in the protected perimeter in order to ensure a durable and respectful cohabitation of the site and its characteristics as a living cultural landscape.
Find all the useful information for a visit in the region on its website.
Montreux-Vevey Tourisme
Located an hour’s drive from Geneva’s international airport, the Montreux Riviera stretches from Lutry to Villeneuve in the canton of Vaud.
Called the “Swiss Riviera” because of its microclimate and beautiful scenery, it has always attracted visitors from around the world. Nestled between the lake and the mountains, Montreux Riviera offers the advantages of a peaceful and safe region, ideal for a family vacation, a magnificent setting for walks, but also a wide range of leisure, cultural and sporting activities. The region also stands out for its fine gastronomy and the quality of its wines.