Swiss raise a glass to winegrowers in rare vintage festival

Armaillis perform the Ranz des Vaches during a dress rehearsal of the 12th Fete des Vignerons, a show dating from the 18th century and performed once every generation celebrating wine and its culture, in Vevey, Switzerland, July 16, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

VEVEY, Switzerland (Reuters) - Switzerland uncorked a once-in-a-generation celebration of its winemakers on Thursday, with fancy dress, alpine horns, cows and dancers kicking off a festival that dates back to the 18th century.

The three-week "Fete des Vignerons" began in 1797, but its roots go back a century further when winemakers used to shame the country's worst vineyard worker each year by crowning them in front of the church at Vevey, in the heart of the wine-producing canton of Vaud.