Today I had a beautiful walk in the Lavaux terraces, a grape-growing and wine-making region on the north slope of Lake Geneva. Right now, the harvest (vendange) is on, so families were out to pick, wash, and press grapes, and many winecellars (caves) are open for tastings.
The terraces have been cultivated since the middles ages and are now a UNESCO world heritage site. It is an astonishingly lovely place-- the green patchwork of vines covering steep slopes, the warm southern sun, and the calm blue of Lake Geneva in the background. I felt like I was impelled to attempt the classic tourist photo of the stunning terraces. Then I realized I could also look for and photograph signs of the landscape systems and work that make this place what it is: the open drainage canals, the tracks that carry loads of grapes, the plastic grape bins and barrels, the yellow tape (what does it mean?), and families out working in the vines. More photos to come!
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