Christian Dutruy

Today

At Les Frères Dutruy in Founex, Switzerland, Christian Dutruy works from a practice shaped by patience, discipline, and place. The Lavaux apprenticeship with Jean-François Chevalley gave that work its early framework: rigor, precision, and a trained eye for what a site will and will not give. Several years in South Africa broadened the view, but when Christian returned in 2002, the core commitment remained unchanged: careful winemaking that treats each parcel on its own terms. Since 2005, Christian has been owner / co-owner of Les Frères Dutruy, where Chasselas remains the estate’s central language. The work is built on listening rather than forcing, with attention to soil, slope, and parcel shaping the result. That parcel-by-parcel approach gives the estate its clarity, and it keeps the style tied to the ground rather than to any imposed formula.

Career - owner / co-owner, Les Frères Dutruy, Founex (2005–present) - worked in South Africa for several years, South Africa (until 2002) Education: Lavaux apprenticeship with Jean-François Chevalley

Signature

Les Romaines sits among Christian’s signature wines as an expression of the estate’s attention to detail. In a region where restraint can matter as much as force, the wine reflects the same measured approach that runs through the rest of the portfolio.

In Their Words Christian is clear about the direction of Les Frères Dutruy: “We want to make parcel-by-parcel Chasselas there, with the grape remaining the essence of the estate, even if we have replanted a little Syrah against the walls, because we love that grape and it is not suited to La Côte.” The statement sets out the working priorities plainly: Chasselas first, the site as limit, and Syrah only where the land can honestly take it. The tone is practical, with affection kept inside the bounds of suitability. He also frames recognition as a matter of shared cultural understanding. “It will be, the day when the people of Zurich and Basel are proud of our Chasselas, identified as our Swiss specialty!” The point is not prestige for its own sake, but acceptance: Chasselas understood, locally and nationally, as something the country can claim with confidence. That makes the ambition specific rather than abstract, rooted in the grape itself.

Recognition

The benchmark Christian names is national pride: “It will be, the day when the people of Zurich and Basel are proud of our Chasselas, identified as our Swiss specialty!” For him, recognition means Chasselas being read as a Swiss specialty in the country’s major cities, not just kept in production but held in common regard.

FAQ Where did Christian Dutruy train or study? Christian Dutruy trained at Lavaux apprenticeship with Jean-François Chevalley. What is Christian Dutruy known for? Chasselas.