Winemaker
Charles Rolaz
CEO, Hammel – Terres de Vins / Domaines Rolaz
- Discipline
- Winemaker
Portrait of Charles Rolaz
i. Biography
At Maison Hammel, Charles Rolaz helped move a traditional house toward a wine workshop model, keeping the work tied to heritage while opening it to renewal. The CEO role at Hammel – Terres de Vins in Rolle places him inside that same balance of continuity and change, and the name Charles Rolaz (La Roche aux Fées SA) extends his footprint beyond one house. In Swiss wine, his current responsibilities point to governance as a craft in its own right: president of the commission of the 1ers Grands Crus of Commission of the 1ers Grands Crus, chair of the board of Hammel SA (since 2014), and president of Mémoire des vins suisses (since 2013).
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Where They Are Now
Board leadership at Hammel SA keeps Rolaz close to the structure of the house itself. The role carries oversight rather than spectacle, and in his case it sits within a long-running effort to refresh a historic identity without severing its lineage. That kind of work is practical and incremental: guiding the institution, holding its course, and making room for change without losing the framework that gives the name its weight.
Signature
Ligne Prestige Brut, Ligne Prestige Rosé Brut NV, Cuvée Charles Auguste, Exelsis Rouge, and Exelsis Blanc are the wines attached to Charles Rolaz. The range moves from the precision implied by the sparkling bottlings to the more formal naming of Cuvée Charles Auguste, with Exelsis Rouge and Exelsis Blanc rounding out the set. As a group, they function as a practical marker of the style and scope associated with his name.
Honors
The distinctions most clearly attached to Rolaz are offices rather than medals: chair of the board of Hammel SA and CEO of Hammel – Terres de Vins. Those roles register as recognition in a trade sense, because they reflect sustained trust, institutional responsibility, and the ability to hold a house through change. The honor, here, is measured in position and continuity.
FAQ
Asked of Charles
What is Charles Rolaz's current role?
Charles Rolaz is CEO.
What is Charles Rolaz known for?
He turned the traditional Maison Hammel in Rolle into an innovative wine workshop.
The Sunday email
Read about winemakers like Charles Rolaz in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.