Once again, a Swiss wine inquiry

WINE TALK
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A friend of mine said, “If you were going to Lausanne, Switzerland, … and wanted to try the local fare,” …

I said, “I have no idea, but I am sure there are folks on the Beserkers board who can help.”

So, any suggestions for wines, wineries, and dining that I can pass on?

Thanks very much!
Andrew

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‘Local fare’ being Switzerland wines?

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lausanne is place of residence from the olympic committee.
http://www.olympic.org/en/content/The-IOC/The-IOC-institution1/" onclick=“window.open(this.href);return false;
dining many here;
http://lausanne-tourisme.ch/view.asp?docId=30664&domId=65323&Language=E” onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Andrew,
I can’t help on dining, but I would definitely encourage your friend to try the local wines at the nicer restaurants when there. I’m up the hill in Verbier every summer, and have really enjoyed some of the local wines. It takes a bit of guidance from a knowledgeable local, but hopefully the somms or restaurant owners will be able to help.

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good article;
Switzerland's best wines: memoire des vins suisses" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Going in January to do a bit of skiing and I imagine I’ll have a glass or two of local wine…
My parents have been bringing back a case of some Swiss wine for the last 20 years or so and
by the time I try a bottle in the spring or summer it just tastes thin and acidic. Maybe it tasted great with the local food?

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Look up some of the old posts from the GJE, they did a syrah tasting where some swiss syrah kicked ass. I haven’t been able to find it here - did buy some Gantenbein in London that I have yet to pop.

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Switzerland has IMO some of the flat out best most under the radar wine in the world.
Pinot Noir is their specialty and it almost never gets beyond the borders.
Seek and ye shall find.

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Wish I could try a PN from there, Bill, 'cause no, you don’t ever hear or see of that.

Andrew, I’ve quite enjoyed Chasselas, one of the white wines from Switzerland. I suppose a Vouvray is probably the closest you get, but there’s often a creaminess to the feel too. It can be very interesting stuff. Don’t have a note on it, but the last I enjoyed was a Domaine De L’Oujonnet Reserve du Domaine Bursinel. Fendant makes some good examples too. I’m sure if you mention Chasselas at a Swiss restaurant, you’ll get some help.

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The pinot doesn’t get across the border because they don’t make very much… decent stuff though. Random thoughts here:

I stayed in Lausanne at the Movenpick Hotel, nice place down by the water, and the breakfast that’s included is amazing. Everything you could possibly imagine with 3 or 4 chefs at your call. Trendy bar their too but not that interesting. The ice cream isn’t that good. There are many restaurants in this area down by the waterfront, I’d talk with your hotel for recommendations if you don’t get anything solid from WB.

The Olympic Museum is on the waterfront too, very cool place spend a couple of hours if you’re a sports person as am I. My wife actually enjoyed it too.

Straight across the street from the main Lausanne train station is a pedestian road up the hill (R. du Petite-Chene)
, that’s a nice walk and there is an AMAZING gyros joint halfway up. I keep seeing all these people walking while chomping on a gyros so “when in lausanne, do as the lausannians” There are small shops and galleries to poke your nose into.

Take the train down to Montreux, it’s only 12-15 miles and it’s along the lake next to the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, amazing!

On your way back to Lausanne from Montreux, get off in Vevey and jump on the “wine train” which heads up the mountain and jump off at Chexbres. From there you just walk down hill, through the terraced vineyards and just knock on doors of places with signs that look like cellars, if they open the door then they are open. We tasted at quite a few and bought a number of bottles, all very casual. We were their in early October so the place was buzzing with activity but we didn’t seen any other tasters. It’s about a 2 mile walk, the view is SICK. When you get to the bottom of the hill (you’ll hit the train tracks) then just follow the signs to the nearst train stop and wait. I think it’s Cully or Rivas… You can’t really get lost.

Here’s a list of cellars: http://www.lausanne.ch/view.asp?domId=64239&Language=E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

you can see from the google maps, EVERYTHING around here is vineyards and here’s a sample picture below.

[edit] Confirmation that the train stop is Rivaz, here I am standing under the Rivaz sign at the window. With my name on the other sign and the terraced vineyards in the background. Great shot! LOL

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Thank you everyone for the helpful comments! I will make sure my friend checks in and sees what is here.

Cheers! [cheers.gif]
Andrew