Swish Swiss lake land exceeds grape expectations

Fête des Vignerons in fact, staged only every 14 to 28 years since 1797, exceeding grape expectations and defying descriptions of most adroit author.

Suffice to say this twelfth spectacular featured cast of thousands - 5,500 to be exact, sporting 70 costumes, in 20 tableau - all toasting this fertile area's longstanding love affair with its lush land.

Pastoral and pantheistic, a powerful production Disney-Pixar would be proud of, this show's circle of life starts and ends with all-important harvest, musical accompaniment driven by Choeur de la Fête's 650 choristers - 150 of them children - and 300 percussionists. UNESCO intangible cultural heritage recognised, what is palpable is this unique event's global appeal, hailed by National Geographic as among "world's most exciting destinations" and lauded as "where to go" favourite location by travel experts from The Guardian to The New York Times.

But you don't have to wait until Brotherhood of Winegrowers' next Vevey celebration to enjoy this captivating canton that oozes fashionable sophistication like an uncorked Benoit Dorsaz Fully Petite Arvine Grain de Folie. Let's be honest, those of us of more mature vintage daren't even buy green bananas!

No, live a little - nay a lot - by seizing the moment now to visit easily accessible area, less than two-hour flight from Blighty, attractive and appealing in equally impressive measure, its serene scenery so much more than sum of its precision watch parts.

Yes, there's clichéd cuckoo clocks, chocs, cheese and army knives - indispensable for those of us inclined to remove stones from horses' hooves - airport shops awash with just such souvenir staples.