Vineyard Terraces In The Famous Lavaux Wine Region, Switzerland. Stock Photography

Lavaux is a wine sub-region of Vaud, situated on the northern shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. This area, which occupies an enviable position on the eastern half of the lake, is known for producing steely white wines, mainly from the Chasselas grape. The centuries-old viticultural history here Cistercian monks are credited with the earliest terracing and plantings almost a thousand years ago has earned Lavaux`s vineyards status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vines here are managed by a relatively large number of growers, as evidenced by the fragmented `patchwork` appearance of the hillside. Most either sell their harvests under contract or join together in co-operative wineries. An increasing number, however, are now making and selling their own wine, a sign of the Swiss wine industry`s increasingly commercial focus. Switzerland.