Lavaux Vinorama: The Stream Where the Dézaley Begins

From Vevey the lakeside train stops first at Saint-Saphorin, where a Roman milestone of AD 47, inscribed to Emperor Claudius, was built into the church under the carved year 1520. One stop on, at Rivaz, the Forestay stream falls beside the Lavaux Vinorama: under Vaud wine law it is the eastern border of the Dézaley, so the Dézaley begins on its west bank. Inside, nearly 300 Lavaux wines line the shelves, and three Chasselas from different estates cost CHF 17.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 The Roman Milestone Under Saint-Saphorin's Church History · Free

   A stone from AD 47 below a door carved 1520.

   A Roman road crossed Lavaux, and one of its milestones, dated AD 47 and inscribed to Emperor Claudius, was built into Saint-Saphorin's church.

   Where: from Vevey (stop 1) the hourly R4 calls at St-Saphorin first; the church is about 120 m from the station.

   What: above the main door, a little worn, is the year it was completed, 1520. If the door is open, find the milestone at the base of an entrance column, and the stair down to a crypt where a 1st-century Roman building became a church. Free.

   Log Memory
2. 2 Stand on the Stream Where the Dézaley Begins Adventure · Free

   The Forestay, where the house says a mill stood: the Dézaley's eastern edge.

   Under Vaud wine law the Forestay stream is the eastern border of the Dézaley: the terraces just west of it are the Dézaley. The house says a mill at the foot of its waterfall is on record from 1420; milling ended in 2001.

   Where: the R4 one stop on to Rivaz, then about 550 m west along the lake road (10 minutes; watch the traffic).

   What: stand by its waterfall at the Vinorama car park's edge and face west, up the slope. Free, any day. Stop 3 climbs from here.

   Log Memory
3. 3 Lavaux in Three Glasses of Chasselas Wine · Price: moderate

   Three estates, one grape, from a wall of nearly 300 Lavaux wines.

   Nearly 300 wines line the Vinorama's shelves, every one from Lavaux.

   Where: Lavaux Vinorama, Route du Lac 2, Rivaz.

   What: “Le Roi des cépages” sets three Chasselas from different Lavaux estates side by side, with bread and butter flûtes, CHF 17. “La Reine de Lavaux” is two Chasselas and a red, CHF 20; “Expérience ultime”, six wines with cheese, CHF 45.

   How: walk in, or book online and pay on site. Without a glass: downstairs, the film “Année vigneronne” follows a grower's year in eight languages.

   Log Memory
4. 4 Your Last Glass With Lake Geneva Behind It Adventure · Free

   The photo memory, on the terrace over the lake.

   The Vinorama opened in 2010, and Le Courrier reports the building won the Arc-Award in 2013 against 162 entries.

   Where: the Vinorama's terrace over Lake Geneva.

   What: end the quest with a photo of your last glass, the lake behind it.

   How: free.

   Backup: the terrace opens only in good weather; on a grey day, frame the glass against the wall of Lavaux wines inside.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• The Train des Vignes is the R7 up to Chexbres-Village and never calls at the lakeside villages; for St-Saphorin and Rivaz take the hourly R4.

• Zero-proof: the Saint-Saphorin growers' caveau pours Lavaux Chasselas grape juice for CHF 3 and spring water for CHF 2, Friday to Sunday 16h-19h, May to October.

• Every Pentecost weekend, at the Caves Ouvertes Vaudoises, the growers open their own cellar doors.