Driven by the same flame in favor of sustainable development which involves the protection and renewal of soils and which promotes health by aiming for balance between living beings, Martine and Alexandre, nature management engineer and environmental designer, took over the family farm in the 2000s.

Biodynamic cultivation immediately became obvious. This agricultural method is applied both for large crops (cereals) and for their 7 ha of low vines.

The estate is located in Jussy, on the left bank of Lake Geneva, in a corner of very preserved countryside. It brings together two very different terroirs. One hosts the vines of Château L'Évêque and Les Bornarches, bathed in predominantly south-western sunshine. The soils, formerly used for livestock farming, are rich in silt, highly siliceous and alkaline, and have a high level of organic matter, which gives the vines greater vigor. The other terroir is that of Lullier, Petit-Lullier and Les Mévaux. It benefits from generous southern sunshine. The vines having been there for a longer time, the soil is sandier and is therefore less “growing”.

To obtain quality grapes, vine care is provided with respect for the plant and in accordance with the lunar cycles. We also bundle the plant, allowing it to reach the end of its natural cycle. All our grapes are harvested by hand in small boxes and are carefully selected on a sorting table.

Under the eye and expert hands of the artisan winemaker, interventions in the cellar stick to the essentials.

For reds, the grapes are destemmed and placed in vats by gravity without crushing the grapes. Carbonic maceration and, depending on tasting, some possible pumping over and pressing after ten to twenty days of vatting. They are vinified and aged for nine months in cubic concrete vats with temporary passage, for some, in barrels. Our white grape varieties are vinified and aged for six months in ovoid concrete vats. Diamond-shaped vats and jars are also used. The fermentations of the white, orange, rosé and red vintages are accompanied by the vibrations of the cello strings.

All Château L'Évêque wines are vinified according to Demeter specifications. The only inputs are sulphites at the time of application (less than 30 mg/liter in total). They are considered natural wines. Our wines are focused on freshness and fruit to be consumed within five years and can, depending on the grape variety, be kept longer.

Furthermore, the corks are made of natural cork and of good quality to allow the wine to age in good conditions over the years. We work with dark bottles for better protection of the wine. Our flat boxes also allow good storage of wine.

“There is nothing easier to say nor harder to do than letting go” Santoka Taneda

Biodynamics teaches us to “let go”, to be in touch with living things every day by giving positive intentions between the earth, the plant, humans and the cosmos.