Domaine Jean-René Germanier - Vétroz
About the winery
The winery was founded in Balavaud by Ubrain Germanier in 1896, a man passionate about wine. Later, his three sons, Francis, Paul and Charles carried on and their wines were considered among the finest in Valais. Around 1940, Francis Germanier decided to plant, along the Rhone valley, a variety of table pear called William, named after the man who selected the variety, known as Good Christian William. In 1945 a violent storm brought the entire harvest to the ground. Francis, in the face of this disaster, chose to distill the fruit. The eau-de-vie that came from this had such flavour and such a degree of harmony that Le Bon Père William was born, and the image of a pear in a bottle became mythic. It rapidly became known as one of the canton’s most recognizable specialties. The production of spirits for a long time played an important role at the domain, before grape-growing began to have a larger place starting in the 1980s.
Today, the third and fourth generations - Jean-René Germanier and his nephew Gilles Besse, both oenologists - carry on the family tradition of wine and spirits, with passion, curiosity and concern for quality. They produce wines that rank them among Switzerland's top producers, paying particular attention to local grape varieties and specialities from the unique Valais terroir.
Domaine Jean-René Germanier
Vétroz
Location
Sierre
Château de Villa
This is the largest wine cellar in Valais, with 650 select wines and the expertise of more than 110 of the canton’s winemakers.
Plan your tasting
Award-winning wines
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Fendant Vétroz Les Terrasses
2022
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Fendant Balavaud Grand Cru
2022
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Heida
2021
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Fendant Balavaud Grand Cru
2020
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