Caves du Château d'Auvernier

The Caves du Château d'Auvernier sits on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, where wine has been made since 1603. The castle itself was built in 1559, but it wasn't until Pierre Chambrier bought the property in 1603 that this family story truly began. Over 400 years later, the same bloodline continues to run the estate. The Chambrier name passed through the female line over the centuries, bringing in families like Sandoz-Rollin, Pourtalès, Montmollin, and now Grosjean.

The terroir here reminds you of Burgundy. Light to medium limestone soils sit above the bedrock, sometimes with barely 40 to 50 centimeters of topsoil. The lake moderates the climate despite the higher altitude, creating ideal conditions for the vines. The estate works with about 60 hectares total. They own 16 hectares themselves, cultivate another 24, and buy grapes from 20 more hectares from growers they've worked with for generations.

Henry Aloys Grosjean took over from his father Thierry in January 2022, becoming the 15th generation to lead the estate. The family has always prioritized keeping the domaine in family hands. Thierry introduced integrated viticulture to reduce chemical use and protect the soil. In 1999, he added a barrique cellar with 220-liter barrels for aging select wines. The historic 15th-century cellars still house the winemaking operations, where traditional methods guide the work.

The flagship wine is Neuchâtel Blanc, made from Chasselas, accounting for about 40% of production. The estate is equally known for its Pinot Noir and the regional specialty Oeil de Perdrix, a rosé made from Pinot Noir. They also produce Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, with some cuvées aged in barrels. The Pinot Noir spends time in large oak casks of 2,500 liters, while the Oeil de Perdrix rests in even larger vessels of 10,000 to 12,000 liters. Their wines represent about 10% of all wine produced in the Canton of Neuchâtel.