Photoshoot in the Lavaux Vineyards

Best time

Seasons

From late April the vines turn green, and May and June give fresh colour and long evenings. July and August are lush but hot on the terraces, with little shade. The grape harvest usually runs from late September into October, and the vines turn gold in late October and early November — the most photogenic weeks of the year. In winter the vines are bare and brown, but clear days can bring snow on the mountains opposite.

Time of day

The terraces face the lake to the south, so midday light is harsh and flat. Plan the last two hours before sunset: the walls glow and in summer the sun goes down along the lake to the west. Mornings are calm and quiet but the light comes from the east, behind the Alps towards Montreux. Sunset is around 21.30 in late June and around 16.50 in December.

Weather

Lavaux is sunny and sheltered from the north, which is why vines thrive here, but that also means intense heat on summer afternoons. The cold bise can still sweep along the lake on clear days, and the warm vaudaire occasionally blows from the Rhône valley at the eastern end. Summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon; the terraces have no shelter, so keep an eye on the sky. In late autumn and winter, low stratus cloud sometimes covers the lake while Chexbres is in the sun above it.

Getting there

Regional trains on the lakeside line between Lausanne and Vevey stop at Lutry, Villette, Cully, Epesses, Rivaz and Saint-Saphorin; the whole stretch takes about 20 minutes. The Train des Vignes climbs hourly through the vineyards from Vevey to Puidoux-Chexbres. CGN boats call at Lutry and Cully in season, and small tourist trains run through the vineyards from Lutry, Cully and Chexbres. Most vineyard lanes are closed to general traffic, so a car helps little. The marked Terrasses de Lavaux trail from Lutry to Saint-Saphorin is about 11 km, roughly 3.5 hours on foot.

Good to know

The vineyards are private, working land. Stay on the paved lanes and paths, do not walk into the rows or climb the walls, and never pick grapes — especially during the harvest, when tractors and small rack railways use the narrow lanes. There are few toilets or cafés between villages, so bring water. For drones, UNESCO status alone is not a ban, but check the federal drone map on map.geo.admin.ch and cantonal rules for your exact spot. The Lavaux Vinorama wine centre in Rivaz is open year-round and makes a good rain stop. See pricing and our guide to proposal spots in Switzerland.

• Wear flat shoes with grip: the lanes are steep and the concrete can be slippery after rain.
• In summer, bring water and plan the session for evening; there is almost no shade on the terraces.
• Choose clothing that contrasts with green vines, such as white, cream, blue or burgundy.
• Combine the terraces with the lakefront at Cully or Lutry for two very different frames in one hour.
• Continue to Chillon Castle or Montreux afterwards for a second setting at sunset.
• During harvest, be patient with working crews and give way on the lanes.