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Vaud: Chasselas, Lavaux and Lake Geneva
Switzerland's lake-side Chasselas country: the seven AOCs and three Grand Crus, Lavaux's UNESCO terraces, the villages on the label, and what to drink with it.
Alper Billik · Advanced Sommelier
Updated October 2026 · 3 min read · Edited with AI
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The short answer: Vaud is the Swiss canton on the north shore of Lake Geneva, reaching up to Lake Neuchâtel. Its grape is Chasselas, usually labelled by village rather than grape. It has seven AOCs and three Grand Cru AOCs, and its most famous vineyards, the terraces of Lavaux, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The appellations
| AOC | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| La Côte | North shore of Lake Geneva, between Lausanne and Geneva (Morges to Nyon) | The biggest area; gentle slopes; Féchy, Mont-sur-Rolle |
| Lavaux | Terraces between Lausanne and Montreux | Steep, sun-filled Chasselas: Epesses, St-Saphorin, Villette |
| Chablais | Right bank of the Rhône, between Villeneuve and Bex | Rich Chasselas from Yvorne and Aigle |
| Bonvillars | North of Lake Neuchâtel | Chasselas and Pinot Noir |
| Côtes de l'Orbe | Between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains | Reds and whites, often Gamay and Pinot Noir |
| Vully | Lake Morat, by the Fribourg border | Light Chasselas and Pinot Noir |
| AOC Vaud | The whole canton | The regional catch-all |
- La Côte
- WhereNorth shore of Lake Geneva, between Lausanne and Geneva (Morges to Nyon)
- Known forThe biggest area; gentle slopes; Féchy, Mont-sur-Rolle
- Lavaux
- WhereTerraces between Lausanne and Montreux
- Known forSteep, sun-filled Chasselas: Epesses, St-Saphorin, Villette
- Chablais
- WhereRight bank of the Rhône, between Villeneuve and Bex
- Known forRich Chasselas from Yvorne and Aigle
- Bonvillars
- WhereNorth of Lake Neuchâtel
- Known forChasselas and Pinot Noir
- Côtes de l'Orbe
- WhereBetween Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains
- Known forReds and whites, often Gamay and Pinot Noir
- Vully
- WhereLake Morat, by the Fribourg border
- Known forLight Chasselas and Pinot Noir
- AOC Vaud
- WhereThe whole canton
- Known forThe regional catch-all
The Grand Cru appellations are all in Lavaux: Dézaley, Dézaley-Marsens and Calamin. Dézaley's steep terraces drop almost to the water, and the wines are fuller and longer-lived than most Chasselas.
Lavaux: the three suns
Lavaux's terraces, built and kept by hand over centuries, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Growers talk of three suns: the sun in the sky, its reflection off the lake, and the warmth stored in the stone walls. That is why Chasselas ripens so well on such a cool, northern lake.
Chasselas, the Vaud way
- Taste: delicate, low in acid, with pear, lime blossom, almond and a mineral, sometimes smoky finish.
- Place before grape: the label says Yvorne, Féchy, Dézaley or Epesses; the grape is understood. Dorin is an old Vaud name for it.
- Ageing: most is for drinking young, but Dézaley and the best Lavaux sites gain honey and toast with years in bottle.
- Other whites: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Doral and Sauvignon Blanc in small amounts.
The reds
Around a quarter of Vaud's wine is red, mostly Gamay and Pinot Noir, with the Swiss crossings Gamaret and Garanoir. Salvagnin is Vaud's label for a red of Pinot Noir and/or Gamay.
With food
- Fondue and raclette: the classic, and the reason Chasselas is on every Swiss table.
- Lake fish: perch fillets with lemon and butter.
- Air-dried meat and mountain cheese.
- Gamay and Salvagnin with sausages, charcuterie and roast chicken.
Producers often named for quality include Louis Bovard, Blaise Duboux, Christian Dugon, Raymond Paccot (Domaine La Colombe), Michel et Raoul Cruchon, and the City of Lausanne's own estates. For the whole country, read Swiss wine: the regions, grapes and styles.
Questions people ask
What grape is Vaud known for?
Chasselas, Switzerland's classic white, usually labelled by village rather than grape.
What are the Grand Crus of Vaud?
Dézaley, Dézaley-Marsens and Calamin, all in Lavaux.
When did Lavaux become a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
In 2007.
How many AOCs does Vaud have?
Seven (Vaud, La Côte, Lavaux, Chablais, Bonvillars, Côtes de l'Orbe and Vully) plus three Grand Cru AOCs, according to Swiss Wine.
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