Guy REVACLIER 

To say that Guy Revaclier loves vines is an understatement! Even his pets are named after grape varieties or wines: Nebbiolo, Pinot, Alba, Malbec… Whether dogs or cats, they are all testament to this passion for grapes and their products. In fact, when asked which bottle from the Cave de Genève he prefers, the winemaker immediately shows himself to be curious and eager to try new things: “I’m open to anything. Over the last thirty years or so, we’ve seen a great deal of progress. Whether in blends or as single-varietal wines, the quality is there. So every bottle opened is a wonderful discovery.”

Learning the trade on the job

In Bourdigny, Guy Revaclier does not produce wine himself. It’s a conscious choice! He delivers his entire harvest to the Cave de Genève. “It would have required a lot of investment to get started…” On the other hand, he tends his vineyard with genuine joy. It must be said that he’s been hooked on it since his earliest childhood. “I used to spend my free time on the straddle mowers, out amongst the vines. It’s not an easy job, but I’ve always loved it!” When the time came to take over the estate, and as his brother wasn’t interested in the venture, he didn’t think twice: he went for it. “I attended an agricultural college in Châteauneuf, Valais, to obtain my CFC. That gave me the basics, but I really learnt the trade on the job.”

The family home has since become his stronghold. “It was my great-grandfather who settled in Bourdigny at the end of the 19th century,” he explains. “He then divided his estate between his two sons.” More than a hundred years later, Guy Revaclier now lives next door to his “younger” cousin, Anne Revaclier, herself a winegrower for the Cave de Genève. This proximity means they can lend each other a hand – particularly during the grape harvest. For Guy looks after his ten hectares of land on his own. On one side, the arable crops (wheat, soya, barley or sunflowers, depending on the crop rotation plan); on the other, the vineyard! “I can’t do everything. A colleague comes to sow my fields using the direct-drilling method. As for the harvest, it’s 100 per cent mechanised, which means the three of us can manage it…”

Climate Change and Ecology

On his 10-hectare estate, Guy Revaclier grows around ten different grape varieties: Chasselas, Chardonnay, Viognier, Gamaret, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling… He is therefore in a prime position to observe climate change in his vineyard. From grapes suffering in the heatwave to harvest dates that are coming earlier and earlier (late August for 2022), there is no shortage of signs. But he also notices a shift in attitudes towards more environmentally friendly farming practices.

“No one has vineyards without grass cover any more. And you’re finding more and more organic wines in shops and restaurants.” Recently, he even had the chance to take part in a demonstration of an automated electric straddle tractor in his vineyard. The profession is changing. Yet Guy Revaclier continues to thrive in his vineyard. He appreciates the independence this profession offers. The rhythm dictated by the vines, with their inevitable cycles. And then, there’s always that magical moment when he can taste the finished product… Pure bliss, of course!