Best season to travel to Switzerland

Grape Harvest and Wine Season

Visit the Canton of Valais or the famous region of Lavaux that boasts 830 hectares of terraced vineyards that stretch for almost 30 km along Lake Geneva

Best time: October–November

Grape Harvest and Wine Season
Grape Harvest and Wine Season
Grape Harvest and Wine Season
Grape Harvest and Wine Season

Switzerland is not a big wine producer and can't compete with neighbouring France or Italy. Neither could it boast the ancient grape harvest and winemaking traditions like Greece or Georgia. However, local wine is excellent and rarely exported so don't miss your chance to try it.

The Lavaux vineyards along Lake Geneva are a UNESCO heritage site and one of the most picturesque places in the country. The hills are so steep that grapes can't be harvested with machinery and have to be picked by hands. That's why every fall local farmers look for help with​ the harvest which peaks in October.

People from all over Europe come to do that pleasant work with lodging and food provided, and a pay on top of that. So if you don't mind some physical activity, ​get in touch with farmers and offer your help. You can also visit La Côte, between Lausanne and Geneva, or other cantons that produce wine.

If you want to know more about Swiss wines, visit the Expovina wine fair in Zurich. This festival is the biggest of its kind in Switzerland, boasts over 4,000 wines for tasting, and takes place in November.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin