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Wine has been grown in Bougy-Villars for over a millenium.
Around the year 1000, monks from the abbey in Romainmotier
were dispatched to the fertile hillsides above Lake Geneva
to cultivate the vines. The results of centuries of viticulture
will be yours for the sampling the evenings of August 18 and
19 at one of the most atmospheric wine festivals of La Cote.
Bougy-Villars, situated in the midst of the vines on the
hillsides above Rolle, is a well-preserved village which also
enjoys a spectacular view up and down the lake. Although the
town has only 381 inhabitants (among them well-known violinist
Pierre Amoyal), it has nearly 20 vignerons. Pierre Cretegny,
town secretary and local vintner, met with me to tell me a
bit about the history of the event. As we chatted, we sipped
Cretegny's delightful Chasselas from typical thimble-shaped
vaudois wine glasses emblazoned with the name of the festival,
"La Bodzerane."
Pierre Cretegny (known in the village as "Lou Lou") first
lit on the idea that Bougy-Villars should have its own festival
after spending a harvest-time holiday in Alsace. He and a
group of other wine growers from the town launched the first
"Bodzerane" in 1977. "Bodzerane" is the expression for a resident
of Bougy-Villars.
On the evenings of the festival, the facades of the ancient
village are beautifully illuminated -- like an 18th century
stage set. Events kick off at 6 P..M. both evenings. The cost
of entry is Sfr 5, including a Bodzerane wine glass full of
the local vintage. You can also buy a "porte- verre," a crocheted
pouch which allows you to hang the wine glass around your
neck. "The village women make them out of wool during the
winter," explained local auberge owner Jean-Francois Roux.
Outfitted with wine glass and porte-verre, you are ready
to make the rounds of the various stands. Wine can be purchased
by the glass, or by the bottle to share with friends at the
long wooden tables placed throughout the town. Concessions
will sell fried filets de perches, boules de fromage,
and grilled meats. A variety of traditional and contemporary
music will be offered at different points throughout the village.
 Cretegny
and a ten-person festival committee have been preparing the
logistics of this year's Bodzerane for months. Up to 4000
people are expected to attend. Since parking is not possible
in Bougy-Villars, festival officials will direct traffic to
parking in the fields around the village. Two buses will circulate
continuously to pick up arrivals. "Each bus will be equipped
with a big bottle of water and aspirin," says Roux. "That's
for the return trip." For those who have passed their limit,
there will also be mattresses and blankets in the Grande Salle,
he noted.
Update of an article first published in 1997
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Contact
the Rolle Tourist Office