Féchy brings winegrowing together with tangible insights into its history: at the Cave de la Crausaz, the cellars lie six metres below the vines, while the Balade des Capites winds through the winegrowing area and offers views of Lake Geneva. There is also the Vigne du Monde, historical traces and several opportunities for wine tasting. When planning your visit, it is worth considering the trail, cellar visit and festival date as different highlights.
Winegrowing between cellars and grape varieties
The Cave de la Crausaz can be visited year-round in a listed building dating from 1620. Its underground cellars lie six metres below the vines. Visitors can see 23 Borsari tanks and 11 enamelled steel tanks there. The Cave is one of the oldest wine cellars in Féchy and the region; a visit combines a look at the cellar facilities with a place whose history goes back to the 17th century.
The wines also give Féchy its own distinctive character. Chasselas makes up 90 per cent of the Cave’s current production; the remaining share consists of Chardonnay, Gamay and Pinot. The Vigne du Monde offers a different perspective: the municipality and the winegrowers of Féchy founded it in 1996. The international vineyard was planted at the foot of an 11th-century church and offers views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. It comprises 58 grape varieties, which are vinified separately to produce a special cuvée. Every year, the Vigne du Monde welcomes a guest country; typical grape varieties from that country grow on micro-terraces. Thus, the Cave’s current production, shaped by Chasselas, and the diversity of the Vigne du Monde offer two distinct approaches to winegrowing.
The Balade des Capites: a walk through the vineyards
The Balade des Capites is a 4.5-kilometre circular trail that takes about two hours to walk and has an elevation gain of around 89 metres. It winds through Féchy’s designated winegrowing area in the La Côte AOC region and offers views of Lake Geneva. Allow about two hours for the walk.
Two refrigerated self-service stations along the route invite visitors to taste local wines. Playful information panels explain the work of the winegrowers, and there are also two interactive educational games. Children aged four and over can take part in a treasure hunt on the Balade. One way to get there is to take PostBus route 846 from Allaman railway station to the Féchy Auberge stop; from there, it is a ten-minute walk. The stations, games and treasure hunt offer different highlights along the walk: wine tasting, information about winegrowing and an activity for younger visitors.
Church, landscape and historical traces
The Church of Saint-Sulpice in Féchy is documented from 1188 and is listed as a historic monument. Burgundian graves were discovered at Le Tombey. The winegrowing area itself also has a special status: since 1971, it has been listed in the Swiss Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance. The church, the archaeological discovery and the winegrowing landscape provide different historical reference points, from the earliest written record to the winegrowing area’s inclusion in the inventory.
Those interested in architectural development will find further historical details at Le Saugey: the Grande Maison was built in 1558. Several manor houses with large outbuildings were built nearby in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Vy de l’Etraz is considered a route at the foot of the Jura and belongs to the oldest road layer currently identifiable. These places and routes complement winegrowing with architectural and historical perspectives.
Wine tasting and when to visit
Around twenty winegrowers in Féchy welcome wine enthusiasts throughout the year. Domaine La Colombe offers tastings in its cellar and covers 20 hectares, with around ten grape varieties. Kursner Vins SA also welcomes visitors for wine tastings. A seasonal event is the Fête du Raisin: held every year in September, it offers tastings of wines from the Féchy production area. This means year-round tasting opportunities and an annual festival date provide different reasons to visit. Check the exact event dates for the year of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Etoy, L'isle Vd, Aubonne, Denens, Morges, Cuarnens, Bougy-Villars, Montricher.
Return to the main travel overview: Morges.
