In Switzerland, winegrowing is often a family affair – deeply rooted and passed down through generations. Young winemakers are now taking up the mantle and combining tradition with fresh ideas and sustainable thinking. We introduce six of them.
Janine Witzig, Lindetröpfli Winery
In the heart of Zurich’s wine country, Janine Witzig and Teddy Milesi run the Lindetröpfli winery together. After training as a winemaker and spending time in Burgundy, Janine Witzig joined the family business in 2023 as the fifth generation at the helm, bringing fresh energy and sustainable ideas to the table.
She is supported by Teddy Milesi, who seamlessly brings his experience and passion for winegrowing to the team. Together, they cultivate around six hectares of vines with great care and a keen sense of the terroir. Their vineyards produce regional classics such as Räuschling, Riesling-Silvaner and Pinot Noir, as well as rare varieties such as Acolon and Pinorico, which are hardly known in Switzerland.
In harmony with nature, they produce authentic wines full of character. Personal contact with customers, whether at tastings or in sales, is just as important to the duo as the craftsmanship that goes into each individual wine.
More information: www.lindetroepfli.ch
Henry Grosjean, Château d’Auvernier
Henry Grosjean is the 15th generation to run the traditional Château d’Auvernier on Lake Neuchâtel. The castle has been in the family since 1603. Today, Henry Grosjean and his team skilfully combine history and modernity.
Classic grape varieties such as Chasselas, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive on around 60 hectares in a privileged location with views of the lake and the Alps. Henry Grosjean attaches great importance to sustainable viticulture, precision in the cellar and elegance in the glass. The wines reflect both the unique terroir of the region and the centuries of experience of the house.
With great sensitivity, he is continuing to develop the family business’s signature style.
More information: www.chateau-auvernier.ch
Nadia and Diego Mathier, Adrian & Diego Mathier Winery
Nadia and Diego Mathier run the Adrian & Diego Mathier winery in Salgesch with passion and a spirit of innovation. The family business, with around 45 hectares of vineyards, is firmly rooted in the Valais terroir and is now in its fourth generation. The winery has received numerous awards, including Swiss Winemaker of the Year (2007, 2011, 2018) and Best Swiss Winery of the Decade (2016).
The next generation is already waiting in the wings: the five daughters are growing up in the family business and are already carrying on its spirit. This ensures the future of the Mathier estate – female, committed and conscious of tradition.
More information: www.mathier.com and www.mathier-shop.com
Francesca Maigre, Domaine des Bonnettes
Francesca Maigre is a young winemaker who is making her mark at Domaine des Bonnettes in Lully, in the heart of the Geneva wine-growing region. The family business was founded by Jean-Louis Maigre (1861-1930) and combines modern techniques with a deep respect for nature on around seven hectares of land.
A trained psychologist, Francesca Maigre brings a breath of fresh air to the estate and focuses on sustainable cultivation methods and authentic, varietal wines. Whether Chasselas, Gamay or Sauvignon Blanc, her wines are precise, elegant and deeply rooted in the region. As part of the new generation of winemakers, she is shaping the future of Geneva’s wine industry with vision and passion.
More information: www.bonnettes.ch
Fabio Zanini, Azienda Vitivinicola Giromit
Fabio Zanini runs the Azienda Vitivinicola Giromit in Brissago with great passion – he is the fourth generation of his family to do so and is firmly rooted in the sun-drenched Ticino region. What began as a small family business has developed under Fabio’s leadership into a winery with a strong character that prioritises quality over quantity.
He is the first in his family to pursue winegrowing as a full-time profession. With respect for nature and the heritage of his ancestors, he mainly grows Merlot, but also traditional varieties such as Bondola. Fabio Zanini’s mission is to continue the tradition in harmony with the new demands of climate and ecology.
He is interested in organic and biodynamic methods and is testing new fungus-resistant grape varieties to reduce the need for treatment.
More information: www.giromit.ch
Clément Gaillard, Domaine Gaillard
At just 19 years old, Clément Gaillard is already shaping the future of his family’s 15-hectare vineyard in Lavaux. A passionate third-generation winemaker, Clément Gaillard stands out for his maturity, creativity and deep connection to the land.
In 2023, at the age of just 17, he launched a successful wine collaboration with Swiss tennis star Timea Bacsinszky – one of many projects that reflect his forward-thinking approach.
Clément Gaillard experiments with drone treatments and celebrates lesser-known grape varieties such as Charmont, a cross between Chasselas and Chardonnay.
More information: www.gaillard-vins.ch
Paul de Watteville, Domaine de Montbenay
The Domaine de Montbenay in the La Côte wine region of Vaud looks back on centuries of winegrowing tradition, dating back to the Middle Ages. Today, Paul de Watteville proudly stands at the helm of the winery in its 16th generation, working hand in hand with his father Maurice.
Paul de Watteville brings fresh energy and a thoughtful approach to the cellar. He works with eight grape varieties – including Chasselas, Pinot Noir and Diolinoir – and carefully adapts each wine’s vinification process. Some wines are aged in amphorae, others in oak barrels or barriques, always with minimal intervention to respect the purity of the grape and the terroir.
More information: www.domainedemontbenay.com
The portraits show that the future of Swiss family winegrowing is in good hands and that the new winemakers are bringing a breath of fresh air without cutting their roots. They focus on quality rather than quantity, sustainability rather than routine, and personality rather than conformity.
Carmen Stalder, Swiss Wine Promotion
Photo Credits: © Lindetröpfli Winery / Adrian & Diego Mathier Winery / Domaine des Bonnettes / Azienda Vitivinicola Giromit / Domaine Gaillard