Natural wine tasting, rustic lunch at vintner’s cottage, visit biodynamic vineyards

Jennifer is such a friendly, knowledgeable local! She went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for me. Can’t wait for my next trip!

My wife and I booked a wine tour with EdibleSwitzerland as part of our 20th wedding anniversary celebrations, and while January is unfortunately out of season for hosted tours, what... read more followed was an experience we will genuinely never forget, entirely thanks to Jennifer. Although Jennifer couldn’t personally host our tour, she went above and beyond by helping us plan the most incredible self-guided wine tour through the stunning Lavaux wine region. From the very beginning, Jennifer was generous with her time, happy to jump on a call to understand our wine preferences, where we were staying, and exactly what we wanted from the day. Her passion for Lavaux and wine was immediately clear. We were staying in Lausanne, and with Jennifer’s guidance we hopped on a train to Puidoux station and followed her carefully prepared directions to our first stop: Gaillard & Fils winery. The weather was absolutely stunning - crisp, with a chill in the air, but bright sunshine throughout the day. On Jennifer’s recommendation, we chose three wines to taste, and they did not disappoint. Despite it being January, we opted to sit outside on the terrace. Jennifer was surprised we braved it, but with the breathtaking views, sunshine, and a mild temperature of around 8°C, it was perfect. In all honesty, we could have stayed there all day and been completely content. From there, Jennifer had suggested moving on for lunch and what a suggestion it was. We walked approximately 1.5km across the Lavaux vineyards to Café Riex, soaking in the incredible scenery along the way. The walk was beautiful and worked up a great appetite. Café Riex is a very traditional restaurant in a small village and clearly popular, booking is highly recommended, especially as they stop serving around 3pm, so planning lunch for around 1pm or earlier is essential. We opted for the chef’s daily special, a three-course lunch that was absolutely fantastic , perfectly balanced, not too filling, but more than enough to fuel the rest of our adventure. Miguel looked after us wonderfully and recommended a lovely bottle of red wine to accompany lunch. We trusted his suggestion, and once again, it did not disappoint. If you ever have the chance to visit Café Riex, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Combined with Gaillard & Fils, it was the perfect start to our Lavaux experience. Our final leg of the journey was on foot once more. Jennifer had discussed our walking ability in advance, and we were more than happy to take on a longer walk, a great way to walk off lunch and build anticipation for the final tasting. Armed with another map prepared by Jennifer, we set off through the Lavaux region, passing through charming villages and countless signposted wineries nestled into the hillsides. It would have been so easy to stop at many along the way they all looked wonderfully authentic. Our last stop of the day was Terrasse de Lavaux (Urban Winery). Here, we enjoyed our final tasting of the afternoon, opting for the red wine selection. We were presented with four superb wines, which rounded off the day perfectly. As the terrace itself was closed, we sat indoors, a cosy and fitting end to an incredible journey. What I really want to highlight in this review is our immense appreciation for Jennifer. She took the time to truly understand what we wanted, then carefully created an itinerary that suited our interests, abilities, and the season - and she did all of this free of charge. I even offered to pay for her time, but Jennifer refused, explaining that she simply loves Lavaux and wine and was disappointed she couldn’t host us personally. Instead, she was determined to help us create a day we would love - and she absolutely succeeded. This level of care, generosity, and passion is rare. Jennifer turned what could have been a disappointment into one of the most memorable days of our anniversary trip. Truly top-class service. Merci infiniment, Jennifer - votre gentillesse et votre passion ont rendu notre journée inoubliable. Avec toute notre reconnaissance. 🍷🇨🇭

Jennifer is such a friendly, knowledgeable local! She went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for me. Can’t wait for my next trip!