Aigle and Vaud wine: everything you need to know before you visit

Chasselas is the dominant white grape variety of the canton of Vaud. In Aigle, it produces dry, taut wines with a stony minerality and delicate floral notes. The grape's naturally low acidity is balanced by the gravelly, alluvial soils of the Rhône plain, which bring freshness and length on the palate. Aigle Chasselas is distinguished from other Vaud appellations (Dézaley, Saint-Saphorin, Féchy) by its straighter structure and a characteristic slight bitterness on the finish — appreciated by connoisseurs.

Aigle Castle is the region's essential landmark. A medieval fortress dominating the plain from a rocky promontory, it has housed the Vine and Wine Museum since 1978. The visit is an immersion in the viticultural history of the Chablais: ancient tools, reconstructed wine cellars, archives and collections of historic bottles. The view from the ramparts over the vines, the Rhône plain and the first Alpine peaks is worth the journey alone.

Badoux Vins, founded in 1908, is one of Aigle's iconic producers. Its cellar produces Chasselas under various cuvées and has a tasting space open to the public. The Cave de la Commune d'Aigle, owned by the municipality, has been vinifying grapes from the communal vineyards for generations — an authentic address truly representative of the terroir. In neighbouring communes, the Domaine de la Ville de Lausanne at Clos du Rocher (Yvorne) and several family estates in Ollon complete the picture. Most offer visits by appointment and guided tastings.

Every year at Whitsun (Pentecost weekend), the Caves Ouvertes Vaudoises open their doors to wine lovers across the region. It's the perfect opportunity to discover the different grape varieties grown in Vaud — Chasselas above all, but also Pinot Noir, Gamay, Diolinoir and other local specialities — directly at the producers, in a convivial and festive atmosphere. Several Chablais cellars and estates take part each year. If your stay falls during this period, it's an experience not to be missed.

This marked walking route connects the wine-growing villages of the Chablais through the vineyards. From Aigle, it climbs towards Yvorne and Ollon over around 10 km, with explanatory panels on grape varieties, growing practices and the history of each terroir. Allow 3 to 4 hours for the round trip, with the option to stop at cellars along the way.

For a wine tourism stay, there is no more logical address. Our studios are 5 minutes' walk from the castle, 10 minutes from the start of the wine trail, and within walking distance of all the cellars in Aigle's town centre. No car needed to get home in the evening. An equipped kitchen to open a bottle and cook a meal with produce from the market. Free parking for car trips to neighbouring communes.