Domaine les Faunes

Our history

The Mistral-Monnier family has been running the estate since its creation in the early 1960s. Marius Monnier, the pioneering ancestor, was the son of a winegrower from La Tour-de-Peilz. From a very young age, he was immersed in the world of vines and wine, as his father was the owner of the illustrious Clos-de-la-George in Yvorne.

Marius Monnier arrived in the canton of Geneva in 1947 and remained in the world of wine, working as head cellarman at La Champagnisation. From 1954 to 1966, he and his wife ran the Café de la Poste in Dardagny and worked for the Friederich brothers, wine merchants also based in Dardagny. At the same time, he bought a few plots of land in the village.

 

In the early 1960s, he acquired three hectares and created the Domaine des Faunes, which he gradually expanded. In 1977, with his son-in-law, he began construction of the current cellar.

In 1983, he handed over the estate to his daughter Danielle and her husband, Gilbert Mistral, who came from a family of winegrowers in Provence. Today, his grandsons, Frédéric and Ludovic, have taken up the torch.

Frédéric Mistral was born in 1977. He first trained as a mechanical and robotics engineer, graduating in 1998. After several jobs in IT, the magic of wine and the sense of the land proved too strong. In 2005, he obtained his degree in oenology and viticulture at Changins. He is responsible for the cellar, winemaking, and marketing.

Ludovic Mistral was born in 1982. He first trained as a car mechanic before also succumbing to the call of his roots. He is responsible for the vineyards as the viticulture manager.

Our estate

Since its creation, our winery has stood out for its policy of diversification. In addition to traditional grape varieties such as Chasselas, Pinot Noir, and Gamay, we offer Aligoté, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Scheurebe, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier, and Syrah. Our range includes some 20 different wines, including several magnificent reds aged in oak barrels.

All the work, from the vineyard to the bottling, is carried out on site by Frédéric and Ludovic, assisted by a close-knit and passionate team.

Our vineyards

On the hillsides surrounding Lake Geneva, the richness of the soil, the gentle slopes and the skilled work of man have created a splendid combination. Anyone lucky enough to visit this region cannot fail to be charmed by it. Our vineyard is ideally located 15 kilometers from the center of Geneva in a village that has retained all its authenticity.

Dardagny has never betrayed its agricultural vocation. Fertile lands such as these deserve human care. The Celtic peoples of the region (Allobroges, Helvetii) were already producing wine before the arrival of the Romans (50 BC).

We are aware of this beautiful heritage, which we are keen to preserve. That is why our farm has been complying with integrated production standards for many years in order to promote the sustainability of our plantations and preserve the environment. The estate has a diverse range of grape varieties, including many specialties such as Syrah, Scheurebe, and Merlot.