Neyroud-Fonjallaz
Our domain
The Neyroud-Fonjallaz domain’s 7.4 hectares sit in the heart of the millennium-old Lavaux region, in Chardonne, offering you a panoramic view over Lake Geneva and the Alps. This exceptional region is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our vines are located in several renowned production areas: Chardonne, St. Saphorin, Calamin and Dézaley. Chasselas, our “king” grape that originally comes from our Lake Geneva region, is at its finest here, expressing beautifully the individuality of each terroir. Other specialties such as Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Gamaret thrive here as well.
Our terroir
The climate, topography and geology – clay, limestone and molasse – provide favourable conditions for cultivating grapevines. Chasselas here is able to give voice beautifully to each terroir. The terraces in Lavaux offer vines a very special exposition where they benefit from the “three suns”: direct sunshine, sun reflected on the lake, and reflected heat released by the walls at night. Our poet C.F. Ramuz said it well.
Our history, our family
Over the centuries our family has handed down from one generation to the next a heritage centred around love for the vines and a taste for good wine.
1901
Henri Neyroud-Barbey obtains the cellar’s first diploma for the cantonal exposition.
1932
The first bottling on the premises by François Neyroud, who seeks to build a private clientele
1958
Louis Neyroud, the son of François, takes over the business and buys more vines. His father lectures him: “You’re not afraid – but there will always be daughters to marry, vines to sell, kittens to give away!”
1964
The end of the small farming operation in order to concentrate entirely on the vineyard
1995
Louis turns the business over to his son Jean-François Neyroud. He plants specialty grapes, modernizes the labels and focuses even greater attention on the vineyard and cellar work.
Today
Jean-François and Anne-Françoise Neyroud-Fonjallaz work with their two sons Basile and Jonas. Basile has an engineering-oenology degree from Changins; when he completed his studies he travelled abroad and worked as an apprentice at Chassagne-Montrachet in Burgundy and Hambledon in England for sparkling wines. Jonas completed two federal professional certificates, in carpentry and viticulture.
Our passion
Is to cultivate our vines with the greatest respect for nature. Ours is an artisanal approach to vinification that is based on family know-how that goes far back, with an emphasis on the authenticity of wine from our terroirs. There’s pleasure in creating wines that are natural, unique, and stamped with the character of our land.
The people who work here with such determination and courage deserve our admiration, and deserve to be exonerated from paying taxes.
Napoleon, 16 May 1800
Take me to the vineyards of Lavaux Want to see the mountains where the waters flow