Famous site in the Lavaux area between Montreux and Lausanne on the north-eastern shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It is classified here as a Grand Cru alongside Dézaley. In 1141, Bishop Guy de Malagny of Lausanne donated land near Dézaley, Epesses (see picture), Marsens and Montheron to the Cistercian monks of Hautcrèt Palézieux Abbey. The monks were tasked with clearing the vast, wild areas and planting vines. Some of the vineyards had to be hewn out of the rock. After 20 years of painstaking labour, this was completed. The area, which lies entirely within the municipality of Epesses, comprises 15 hectares of vines. The south-facing, steep, terraced vineyards are located around 40 to 50 metres above the lake shore at 400 to 460 metres above sea level. The white wine variety Chasselas is mainly cultivated here, as well as the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Gamay and Merlot. Well-known producers include Bovard, Les Frères Dubois, B. Fonjallaz and E. & L. Fonjallaz.
Image: Own work, Hansueli Krapf (User Simisa), CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
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