After Philo: Vines & Views (Caves Ouvertes)

After our Café Philo gathering, you’re warmly invited to continue the day with a relaxed and sociable outing to the Caves Ouvertes de Genève — a much-loved annual tradition celebrating the region’s vineyards and winemakers.

This is a completely optional extension to the morning. You’re very welcome to join one event, the other, or both — there’s absolutely no expectation to attend both.

The Plan

We’ll head out to the beautiful Rive Gauche countryside and spend the afternoon wandering between a handful of local vineyards.

This side of Geneva is usually a little quieter during the Caves Ouvertes, so hopefully we’ll avoid some of the larger crowds.

Details

• Area: Cologny → Carre d’Aval → Choulex
• Route: A gentle countryside walk through vineyards, visiting 3–4 wineries along the way
• Atmosphere: Informal, exploratory, and unhurried — tasting, walking, and enjoying the landscape
• Finish: We’ll end in Choulex at around 17:00, with straightforward bus connections back into Geneva

The event itself is simple and charming: more than 70 wineries across the canton open their doors for tastings of their latest vintages.

A tasting pass (CHF 20, purchased at the first vineyard you visit) includes an official tasting glass and access to all participating caves.

Joining the Group

You can join us in whichever way is easiest:

• Option 1: Leave together from the Café Philo venue (MRL) at around 12:40 and walk to Rive
• Option 2: Meet at Rive, bus stop “I”, in time for the 13:01 Bus 33 (direction Puplinge), getting off at “Le Fort”
• Option 3: Meet us directly at our first stop — Domaine de la Vigne Blanche in Cologny — at around 13:15

Rough Itinerary

We’ll begin at Domaine de la Vigne Blanche in Cologny, where we can purchase our tasting glasses and start the afternoon gently.

From there, we’ll take bus A out towards Carre d’Aval and gradually make our way on foot into the Choulex countryside, stopping at vineyards along the route according to mood, timing, and curiosity.

The exact rhythm of the day will remain flexible — more wandering than scheduling.

A Few Practical Notes

You may wish to bring:

• a water bottle
• comfortable walking shoes
• picnic food or snacks

Some vineyards may offer charcuterie platters or light food, but availability can be unpredictable — so it’s best not to rely on it entirely.

Small (But Important) Note 🍷

As this will (hopefully) be a sunny afternoon of wine tasting and countryside wandering, you’re warmly encouraged to follow your own rhythm — whether that means staying with the group, lingering a little longer at a favourite cave, or heading off whenever it suits you.

This is intentionally informal rather than a guided tour, and I won’t be coordinating return journeys or keeping track of the group throughout the afternoon.

So please consider yourself a cheerful free agent: responsible for your own pace, your own tasting limits, and your own safe return to Geneva.

In short: enjoy freely, wander lightly, and make sure you can still find your way home 😉

Links
https://www.geneveterroir.ch/fr/une-des-plus-belles-journees-de-lannee/6784

Note: In case of poor weather we will cancel the event.