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 The history of the Hautecour estate dates back to the XVII century. There were only a few vineyards in Mont-sur-Rolle, and they were bought by a well-off Genevan family. As time past, the vineyards expanded beyond five hectares. The names of their proprietors changed with every generation, as the land passes on from woman to woman. In fact, in this Calvinist city's upper middle class, young men inherit banks, while young woman receive family estates.
Coraline de Wurstemberger has now taken charge, after Louise, Julie-Pauline, Adèle, Blanche and Ernestine. The present owner of the premises was introduced to the vineyard by her grandmother Théodora, who managed Hautecour until 1985, yet Coraline didn't fit the profile of a Vaud wine-grower. Born in Paris and raised in Italy, the young woman studied art restoration and then worked as a delegate at the IRCC. It was only in 1995, after her father passed away, that along with her two brothers she decided to take up the management of the estate. She began a training course at the Changins school and ended up becoming the sole proprietor in 2002. Taking over the inheritance involved selling 2.5 hectares of land and the owner's house, which allowed Coraline to rename the estate «Les Dames de Hautecour» in honour of her grandmothers.
For more information in french, click here
by Alexandre Truffer, ©RomanDuVin.ch 2007
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