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Our History

Since 2008, Domaine Les Hutins has been run by Émilienne Hutin Zumbach, assisted by her father Jean Hutin, who gently handed over the reins to her.
She represents the fifth generation of the family to head the Domaine.

The latter played a leading role in the Geneva wine revolution of the 80s. In collaboration with a number of colleagues, and thanks to the invaluable advice of the cantonal oenologist, Jean and his brother Pierre Hutin made a firm choice to give priority to quality by fighting to limit yields. They also enriched their vineyard with new grape varieties and brought out the magnificent potential of a crop and terroir hitherto little exploited.

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This new approach has generated wines that are increasingly appreciated, recognized, and generously awarded medals.
Emilenne Hutin Zumbach's taste for working with vines and wine was awakened late in her studies, before becoming the unconditional love that eventually dedicated her "body and soul" to the winegrowing profession.

While raising her three children and working at the Domaine, Émilienne wanted to immerse herself in the trade through internships, then plunged back into her studies at the Changins Specialized School, where she obtained a diploma in oenology in 1995 followed in 2003 by a diploma in viticulture.
Finally in 2008, when her uncle Pierre retired, leaving Émilienne in charge of his vines, she took over the running of the Domaine with her father.

A beautiful complicity is the key to their work. Émilienne reveals her talent and Jean, always enthusiastic, brings her his experience and precious knowledge. Passionate but patient, they seek out new avenues, refining their search for quintessences, experimenting with winemaking and cultivation techniques. Their work has been amply rewarded by an ever-growing reputation, by award-winning wines in the most cutting-edge competitions, and in 2009 the Domaine des Hutins was invited to join the prestigious association  "Mémoire des vins suisses"

Today, the harvest from the 19-hectare vineyard is entirely vinified, bottled and sold at the Domaine, and Émilienne's son Guillaume Zumbach, very attached to the family vocation, will no doubt soon be joining the Domaine's work.
This family signs its wines, and proudly defends the philosophy of the vigneron-encaveur: the man through whom the terroir becomes wine.

Technique

The vigneron-encaveur cultivates his vines and ages the wine in his cellar. He sells all or part of the harvest in bottles, under his own name, responsibility and label.

The Domaine's vineyards today cover 19 hectares, classified as premier cru AOC Dardagny and AOC Genève. It is made up of 16 different grape varieties.

Two methods of cultivation are used to produce our wines.

Two cultivation methods are applied:
In low vines, with a planting density of 9'000 to 10'000 vines per hectare, and a spacing between the rows of 120 or 140 cm.
In high vines, with a planting density of 7'000 vines per hectare, and a spacing between the rows of 180 or 200 cm.

The inter-rows, which account for 70% of the vineyard surface, are grassed or mulched in both growing methods.

The pruning system is simple Guyot.

The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand.

Treatments against fungal diseases respect the principles of PI

integrated protection.

Grape worms are controlled by traps inducing sexual confusion, and red spider control is achieved through the introduction and preservation of a predator.

Parallel to this, 2.5 hectares of the vineyard have been converted to the principles of biodynamic cultivation over the last ten years for observation purposes and agronomic interest.

Émilienne Hutin Zumbach and Jean Hutin are supported by four full-time staff, and one apprentice or trainee.
15 to 20 people, loyal for years, are called upon temporarily for leaf work, harvest regulation and the grape harvest.