The wines of Domaine de Beudon

Domaine de Beudon is a unique and special winery from Switzerland, for several reasons. Since 1992 they have farmed biodynamically, making them the first in Switzerland to do so. The family's vineyards lie up to 900 meters altitude on the steep mountainside in the Rhône valley, reachable only by a small cable car or a steep footpath. Although Domaine de Beudon's wines have a relatively low alcohol percentage and aren't aged in wooden barrels, they can be cellared for decades.

Domaine de Beudon lies near the hamlet of Beudon in the Swiss part of the Rhône valley, in the canton of Valais (Wallis in Dutch/German). It was founded in 1971 by Jacques Granges, who passed away in his vineyard in 2016. Fortunately his wife and two daughters carry on his life's work.

'Jacky', as his friends called him, was a special winemaker - a pioneer. He bought six hectares of fairly 'impossible' vineyards: three vineyards on a steep mountainside, up to 900 meters above sea level, facing south and thus benefiting optimally from the sun. The highest vineyards are only reachable by cable car. And as early as 1993 he farmed entirely biodynamically - the first winemaker in Switzerland to do so.

This combination of exceptionally favorable vineyards and biodynamics produces very special wines - remarkably distinctive wines. They are fermented in steel tanks, generally have a low alcohol percentage, and are nonetheless exceptionally age-worthy, up to twenty-five years, both the white and the red wines. According to the Granges family, the low alcohol percentage has to do with the natural yeasts (the family adds nothing), while the long shelf life of the wines comes mainly from the enormous vitality of the vines.

Domaine de Beudon makes wine from various grape varieties planted mainly in the region. For red wines they use Gamaret, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Humagne Rouge and Diolinoir. For their white wines they use Fendant, Petite Arvine and Riesling x Silvaner (Müller-thurgau).

If you want to know more about this winery, here you will find the link to the website of Domaine de Beudon.