Domaine Les Hutins

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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 is gently handing over the reins to her.
She represents the fifth generation of the family at the helm of the estate.

He played a leading role in the Geneva wine revolution of the 1980s. In collaboration with a few colleagues and thanks to the valuable advice of the cantonal oenologist, Jean and his brother Pierre Hutin made a firm decision to prioritize quality by fighting to limit yields. They also enriched their vineyard with new grape varieties and highlighted the magnificent potential of a culture and terroir that had been little exploited until then.

This new approach has resulted in wines that are increasingly appreciated, recognized, and generously awarded medals.
Émilienne Hutin Zumbach's taste for working with vines and wine awakened late, at the end of her studies, before becoming the unconditional love that ultimately led her to devote herself "body and soul" to the profession of winemaker.

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

A wonderful partnership is the key to their work. Émilienne reveals her talent and Jean, always enthusiastic, brings her his experience and valuable knowledge. Passionate but patient, they are always looking for new ways to refine their search for quintessence, trying out new winemaking and cultivation techniques. Their work has been richly rewarded with an ever-growing reputation and wines that have won awards in the most prestigious competitions. In 2009, Domaine des Hutins was invited to join the prestigious association "Mémoire des vins suisses" (Memory of Swiss Wines).

Today, the entire harvest from the 19 hectares of vineyards is vinified, bottled, and sold at the estate, and Émilienne's son, Guillaume Zumbach, who is very attached to the family business, will undoubtedly soon join the estate.
This family puts its name on its wines and proudly defends the philosophy of the winemaker-vintner: 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 estate's vineyard now covers 19 hectares, classified as AOC Dardagny and AOC Geneva premier cru. It is composed of 16 different grape varieties.

Two cultivation methods are used:
Low vines, with a planting density of 9,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare, and a spacing between rows of 120 or 140 cm.
In tall vines, with a planting density of 7,000 vines per hectare and a spacing between rows of 180 or 200 cm.

The inter-rows, which represent 70% of the vineyard's surface area, are grassed or mulched in both cultivation methods.

The pruning system is single Guyot.

Harvesting is done exclusively by hand.

Treatments against fungal diseases comply with the principles of integrated pest management (IPM).

Grape worms are controlled using traps that induce sexual confusion, and red spider mites are controlled by introducing and preserving a predator.

At the same time, 2.5 hectares of the vineyard have been converted to biodynamic cultivation principles over the last ten years for observation and agronomic interest.

Émilienne Hutin Zumbach and Jean Hutin are supported by four full-time employees and an apprentice or intern.
Fifteen to twenty people, who have been loyal for years, are temporarily called upon for leaf work, harvest regulation, and grape harvesting.