precious-postcards

Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces

The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, stretching for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva from the Chateau de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne in the Vaud region, cover the lower slopes of the mountainside between the villages and the lake. Although there is some evidence that vines were grown in the area in Roman times, the present vine terraces can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. It is an outstanding example of a centuries-long interaction between people and their environment, developed to optimize local resources so as to produce a highly valued wine that has always been important to the economy.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1243

The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces comprise a 30km stretch of land along Lake Geneva where viticulture has been practised since at least the 11th century. There are even findings that suggest that already the Romans grew vines here. 

Local Benedictine and Cistercian Monasteries, who owned the land, started large scale winemaking here. They employed farmers to do the work, against a percentage of the earnings. The landscape is dotted with small villages and castles. 

The vines are grown on terraces: the location benefits of a temperate climate due to the reflection of the sun in the lake and the stone walls. Wines that are produced here are not well-known around the world. They include The Villette, Saint-Saphorin/Lavaux, Epesses, Dézaley and Chardonne. 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/lavaux.html