Christophe Chappuis

The Chappuis family has been rooted in the village of Rivaz, in the heart of the Lavaux vineyards on the shores of Lake Geneva, since 1335. With the 19th generation now at the helm, the land and the vine truly run through their veins. Their estate sits within the Lavaux terraced vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape that showcases centuries of interaction between people and their environment. The vines here cling to vertiginous south-facing slopes overlooking Lake Geneva, blessed with a sunny aspect magnified by bright alpine sunlight reflecting off the lake's surface. This is terroir at its most dramatic, where steep, terraced slopes face south with classic clay-limestone soils and the moderating influence of the lake.

Christophe Chappuis currently cultivates 7 hectares across the prestigious appellations of Saint-Saphorin, Dézaley and Chardonne. Chasselas, the king of Lavaux, naturally dominates the vineyards, but over the years they've also planted viognier, pinot gris, pinot noir, gamay, gamaret, merlot, diolinoir and syrah. For the different wines he produces, Christophe is always searching for the typicity and purity of each grape variety. He particularly loves the minerality of Chasselas, drawing the best from the soils while respecting their characteristics and balance. His flair for Chasselas from different parcels reflects many years of experience.

The flagship wine is the Dézaley 1er Grand Cru La Gueniettaz, a Chasselas that captures the essence of this legendary Grand Cru site. The estate produces a range of wines that showcase the diversity of Lavaux terroirs. There's the "1335 7 Siècles de Tradition" honoring the family's deep history, and the "Latitude 46°47" Dézaley Grand Cru that references the precise geographic coordinates of these special vineyards. For red wine lovers, the Ambroisie Dézaley Grand Cru brings together syrah, merlot, pinot noir and gamay in a structured blend. You'll also find single-varietal bottlings like Cornalis, Gamaret, and Le Roc Noir, along with whites from Saint-Saphorin and Chardonne that express the subtle differences between these neighboring sites.

What makes Christophe's wines stand out is their honest expression of place. These aren't wines trying to be something they're not. They're rooted in nearly seven centuries of family knowledge, shaped by hands that understand every slope and stone wall. The Chasselas wines show the mineral backbone that comes from limestone soils warmed by three suns: the one above, its reflection on the lake, and the heat radiating from ancient stone terraces. The reds benefit from the same warmth, ripening varieties that normally struggle this far north. This is winemaking that respects both tradition and terroir, carried forward by a family that's been tending these slopes since the Middle Ages.