Climate
The climate of Vaud is highly favorable for cultivation of vineyards and is strongly influenced by lakes.
Average temperature:
January: 1°C / 34°F
July: 19°C / 66°F
Rainfall: 1100 mm. /yr. (43 in.)
Moderately rainy for Switzerland, but less than Ticino
The yearly hours of sun coverage varies from 1730 hrs in Nyon to 1820 hrs.
The altitudes of Vaud’s vineyards range from the lakeshore (375 m. /1230 ft.), to the slopes above Bex (700 m. /2460 ft.).
Soils
The soils in the canton of Vaud are the result of combined forces of glaciers, rivers and mountains which produced a prodigious diversity. This vast variety is mirrored in a great number of subtle nuances in the bouquets of Vaud's Chasselas wines.
Chablais
Some of the canton's most attractive soil compositions:
Villeneuve - magnesium and a little gypsum content
Yvorne - scree and marl, landside soils
Aigle - alluvial and landside soils,
Ollon and Bex - high gypsum content
La Cote
Moraine offers varied soil compositions as clay, chalk and all types of raw materials.
Lakeside - gravely soils with low limestone content.
Lavaux
Moraine with varied soils
Dezaley - layers of puddingstone.
North Vaud
Bonvillars and Orbe
Moraine and limestone soils
Vully:
Sandstone soil compositions of calcareous shake with sand and clay. |
