Famille Anne REVACLIER 

We are delighted to meet the dynamic and down-to-earth Anne Revaclier at the family estate, which was run by her father and grandfather before her. We meet our winegrower on her eight hectares of vineyards in Satigny, where she grows Gamay, Garanoir, Gamaret, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Chasselas and a little Doral. As well as the vines, Anne owns agricultural land which she leaves as a flower-rich fallow.

“Like many women, I lead several lives in a single day!”

After chatting for a few minutes, it quickly becomes clear that Anne is a woman who can juggle many tasks at once. As well as running her vineyard, she is a mum to three children and is soon to become Mayor of the commune of Satigny. It really makes you wonder when she finds the time to get a bit of rest! But our winegrower shares her secret for making it all run like clockwork: involving the family in all activities and not drawing lines between roles. This way, everyone is involved in each other’s lives and they make the most of the time they spend together!

A woman with practical experience

Born in Satigny, her home is situated just fifty metres from the place where she was born. As for her education, after completing a bachelor’s degree in political science, Anne worked for three years in financial auditing before setting off on a backpacking trip around Asia. It was there that she discovered her passion for humanitarian work, spending a year working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Cambodia. She then worked for the ICRC abroad, before embarking on a career change and obtaining her diploma in oenology and viticulture at Changins. Elected as a local councillor in 2011, Anne no longer had time to do everything and left her post at the ICRC to devote herself to the family estate and politics.

‘Time takes on a different dimension when you’re out in the vineyard.’

For Anne, viticulture goes hand in hand with a deep connection: a connection to the land, to nature, and a love of the great outdoors. She believes that to be a good winegrower, one must be observant and precise in one’s work. You have to constantly ‘keep your nose in the vines’ to spot any abnormalities and respond appropriately. What sets Anne apart is her environmental awareness. Her children, in fact, are right behind her, encouraging her in this direction. Her next goal is to manage without herbicides, knowing that, in an ideal world, she would have stopped using them long ago.

What our winegrower particularly loves is being outdoors, in touch with nature. As she prunes or tends to the vines, the hustle and bustle subsides and the calm allows her to reflect. It is in these moments that solutions are found to whatever problems may arise. This genuine and wholehearted woman confides, however, that she also loves human contact and moments of conviviality!

If she had to choose just one season, it would be spring! Nature coming to life, flowers and bees – that’s right up her street. She does, however, look back with a touch of nostalgia on the grape harvest season, when teams from southern Italy would bring life and cheer to the villages. A festive interlude would then begin, culminating in numerous country dances and the Miss Grape Harvest pageant!

A look to the future

In the future, she hopes that wine will continue to be a product sought after and appreciated by consumers. Producers and consumers already have a great deal in common, as they share a taste for the finer things in life and for local produce. She also hopes that dialogue between the urban and agricultural worlds will be strengthened, as understanding and respect stem from knowledge.

When it comes to tasting, Anne is particularly taken with the Baccarat range, which she describes as “as sparkling as life itself”! Whilst she admits to preferring white wine, she also enjoys the Syrah-Gamaret blend.

Finally, she tells us that the spirit of solidarity that exists amongst the winegrowers and with La Cave de Genève is something very close to her heart. Being able to count on a supportive community when times are tough is an incredible blessing these days.