I recently went on a wine safari of Switzerland. This is the only way to define a voyage of discovery as filled with tantalizing tastes and sights as you might experience during a safari through the African veldt. Only here the exotic flora is rare grape varietals, the beautiful and unusual geography, the Alps.
Who would not thrill to the idea of tasting wines from such romantic sounding grapes as Humagne rouge, Petite Arvine, Cornalin, auxerrois, hibou, among others?
My safari started in the southwestern corner of Switzerland, the sterner, French-speaking region known as la Suisse romande. Despite its size, the canton of Vaud has 28 appellations divided among its four wine-growing regions. By car these historic villages are but 5- 10 minutes apart and, as is true anywhere in Switzerland, all are attainable by rail. Chasselas is the predominant grape here. The steep inclines expose the vines to the sun, whose heat is enhanced by the solar reflection off the lake.
Strata of stone alternate with soft marl a calcareous, clayey, sandy soil to form the walls and narrow terraces, some no more than a yard wide. You can make your headquarters in Lausanne or station yourself about 20 minutes outside the city in the beautiful and affordable Hotel Bon Rivage in La Tour-de-Peilz, which is quite literally a 10 minute walk from downtown Vevey, along the banks of Lake Geneva.
The Bon Rivage is an insider secret: a marvelously run small hotel at decidedly unSwiss prices. Including the usual opulent Swiss breakfast, all taxes and services, and a stunning view of the lake, my large and comfortable room cost a mere 80 euros per night.
