An emblematic grape variety of the Vaud canton, the Chasselas conservatory can be found on the Louis Bovard domain, in Lavaux.
While some Vaudois aperitifs fans worship it, the Chasselas is as fragile as any grape variety. Like other types of agriculture, wine growing is threatened by a lack of diversity. While there are about twenty Vaudois white grape varieties, the "Russent Fendant" variety has the monopoly on the Lavaux vine. To encourage diversity and promote new varieties, the winemaker Louis-Philippe Bovard has joined the Changins-Wädenswil Cantonal Office for Viticulture and Agroscopy, to create the World Chasselas Conservatory.
On a plot of 3000 m2 on the Louis Bovard domain in Rivaz, the public can compare 19 Chasselas grapes. The 5 main varieties found in the canton of Vaud – Russet Fendant, Green Fendant, Giclet, Blanchette and Rodzasse - are harvested on the spot, in order to determine their suitability for the Vaudois vineyard.
