WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - AMONG THE VINES

AMAZING VIEWS FROM RUSSIN

After having walked to Dardagny and had a good look around, we decided to go back to Russin where we would take the RER (regional) train back to the central train station, Geneva Cornavin...

But we did not want to go back home without having another peek at that quaint village and it's surroundings. It is such a lovely place that I no desire to leave without taking a more in-depth tour of it. No matter how small it is there are surprises waiting for you every time you turn a corner or enter a new street.

Despite the strong wind blowing and the biting cold, it was such a clear and splendid day that it would have been a pity not to profit from the stunning view as well as landscapes that were to be admired at that very moment. The Frecnh Alps were obcenely visible and the Mont Blanc was standing proud between the small and the big Salève (see picture n°2 from the top). When such a spectacle offers itself to your eyes, you have to stare with amazment no matter how many times you've seen it all!

DARDAGNY, A PLACE WHERE WINE & BEAUTY MEET

In my photography post last week I talked about a little village called Russin which is situated in the largest wine-growing area in the Canton Geneva. Well once we had walked around it's streets, admired the pretty country houses and eaten our cold mini pizzas, we decided to hike (3kms one way - plan here) through the vineyards in the direction of another quaint yet slightly bigger place called Dardagny...

So, we strolled along a sinewy hill that led us down into a valley where the river Allondon flows peacefully towards the Rhône, went up a hill covered with steep fiery-red vineyards and headed for the idyllic Dardagny (pictures 4,5 & 6).

Dardagny is not only a village, but also a commune which is situated on a tiny hill at 495m above sea level and has about 1316 inhabitants. There, the vineyards are spread on harsh slopes, many different types of cereals grow on the plateaus and vast hardwoods spread till the foot of the Jura mountains.

One thing that is striking upon arriving in Dardagny is the amount of private wine cellars where you have the opportunity to buy and sample the local pruducts. Everywhere you turn your head there's either one cavern on your left or right! The wine tradition is so big in the region and many very good wines are produced there (Reds: Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamaret, Zinfandel & Garanoir, all oaked or unoaked/Whites: Chasselas, Aligoté, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc & Viognier). After all Geneva is a canton that has about hundred wineries producing a range of high-quality wines (8-12 million litres of wine annually)...

Visit Robert's blog ("Lamiacucina", in German). He reviews some wine from Dardagny.

RUSSIN, A VILLAGE IN THE VINEYARDS

During our holidays we had planned to travel to Lyon, spend the day there, buy lots of traditional food specialities, eat in a Bouchon and spend the day there. Unfortunately, the Gods were against us (we never have luck) as the French strike had to fall exactly at that moment. Most of the trains were cancelled and so was our TGV. What a bummer!

Anyway, we refused to let ourselves get depressed and decided to get the best out of our day. Instead of travelling to another country, we chose to stay in Geneva and visit the scenic vineyard region at the foot of the French Jura mountains. So, we took the bus to the train station and there we got into a little regional train that drove us to the small village of Russin.

Russin is situated in the largest wine-growing area in the Canton Geneva and is the country's third-largest wine producing canton. Everywhere you go, you see vineyards (clayish and sandish soils) and wineries. It is impossible to walk there without seeing that wine is at the center of everything. It is the perfect place to discover new wines, especially if you are in the vicinity during the "Fête Des Vendanges" (grape harvest festival in September) or the "Portes Ouvertes" (open wine cellars day in May).

When we were there in October the weather was quite wintery. Although the vineyards were magnificent with their fiery fall foliage and the sun was shining wonderfully, the air was extremely crisp and a strong northern wind (bise) was blowing. The landscapes were mindblowing, the colors so soul-uplifting and the Mont-Blanc stood proudly in the horizon. Amazing!