Château De Favières

Essertines-Sur-RolleSwitzerland 46° N · 6° E Verified Aug 2026

A 'château' that's really a winegrower's house: the same family since 1675, biodynamic vines, a monumental 1908 chimney, and Mont-Blanc views over Lake Geneva.

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Five centuries of family claims rest on a date no archive confirms. Château de Favières, a six-hectare biodynamic wine estate in Essertines-sur-Rolle, Switzerland, invites you to taste the gap between romantic lineage and documented fact — with Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc glinting below the vines.

Sabrina and Vivien Moinat, the current custodians, call the estate 'un acte d'amour' — an act of love. The word amour appears four times in their short self-description. Either a family's deepest truth or very good marketing — the vineyards do not rush to settle the question.

Inside, the 1908 salon chimney twists upward on carved wooden columns, a reminder that this was once an ambassadorial residence, not a farmhouse. Outside, the 1846 barn and stable still stand, older than the current château's diplomatic flourishes.

The real draw is the working cellar: Chasselas Grand Cru from old vines, a rare passerillé made from dried grapes, Pinot Noir, and even a barrique-aged Merlot. You come for the view, but you stay for the argument about what 'since 1675' actually means.

Researched by the Audiala editorial team from historical records, architectural archives, and local expertise.

What to see

  1. The View from the Vines

    The vines at Château de Favières sprawl across 6.2 hectares of the Mont-sur-Rolle appellation, planted to Chasselas, Gamay, Pinot Noir, and the inky Swiss crossings Gamaret and Garanoir. From the upper terraces, Lake Geneva flattens into hammered silver. Mont Blanc hangs on the horizon like a stage backdrop, close enough to read as weather rather than geography. Come late afternoon, when the lake throws light back into the canopy and the smell of warm vine leaves rises from the rows. Ask for the Chasselas Vieilles Vignes; if they've made passerillé that year, don't leave without it.

  2. The Manor, the Turrets, and the Plane Tree

    Forget fairy-tale battlements. The manor that greets you in Bugnaux is a working maison de maître, rebuilt in 1756 and later topped with neo-Gothic turrets—a bit of romantic stagecraft so it reads 'château' from the lane. Step through the covered portal and look up: the turrets are precisely what most people walking to the cellar miss. In the courtyard, a plane tree with flaking, mottled bark shades the gravel, and the adjacent barn and stable, dated 1846, tells the story of an earlier farming economy before the family's diplomatic ascent. The 1908 chimney with twisted wooden columns lies inside the private wing; if you taste with Vivien or Sabrina, ask about it. It's the architectural equivalent of a tucked-away family photograph.

  3. Walk the Two Worlds of Essertines

    The commune's nickname isn't metaphor: upper and lower Essertines each kept their own school, post office, parish, and fire brigade, because the two worlds sit 467 meters apart in altitude—roughly one and a half Eiffel Towers stacked on each other. Start at the château in Bugnaux, then follow the old paths up toward the ruins of Mont-le-Vieux Castle, the medieval seat destroyed by fire in the 15th century and abandoned for the hamlets. Along the way, the lake drops behind you and the air cools; the difference between 429 and 896 meters feels physical, not statistical. At the top, detour to the 48-meter fir known as le vieux Sapin, then circle back down on tired legs for a glass of something from the vines you passed two hours earlier.

Plan your visit

Getting There
From Geneva, ride the main line to Rolle (about 25 minutes), then catch the line 840 bus toward Essertines/Bugnaux — the full car-free trip takes roughly 1 hour 9 minutes and costs CHF 13–40. Driving, aim for Rue de Bugnaux 1, 1180 Rolle; the estate hides in the Bugnaux hamlet above the lake. Parking is unsigned and limited, so arrive early on market days.
Opening Hours
As of 2026, no official seasonal schedule is published. One wine-producer directory lists 10:00–18:00, but the estate's own site says tastings are 'sur rendez-vous' — by appointment only. Email [email protected] before setting out; the village autumn market on 6–7 November 2026 can snarl the small lanes.
Time Needed
Thirty to forty-five minutes covers a quick tasting and bottle purchase. A proper visit — vineyard stroll, cellar chat, tasting the Chasselas Grand Cru and barrel-aged Pinot Noir — runs 1.5 to 2 hours. These are working estimates, not printed timetables.
Accessibility
No published accessibility information exists. The property is a sloped vineyard domain in Bugnaux; expect uneven ground, gravel paths, and steps between buildings. Contact the Moinats directly to ask about step-free routes before committing.
Cost & Tastings
No admission fee — this is a private wine estate, not a ticketed castle. Tastings are arranged directly with the family; bottle prices start around CHF 28 for a Sauvignon. The Chasselas Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes and the rare passerillé are the bottles worth the conversation.

History

The Love Story and the Burned Castle

Before the Moinats poured a single vintage, this ridge belonged to a different kind of power. The name Essertines comes from cleared woodland, and by 1179 a fortified seat stood at Mont-le-Vieux, held by the lords of Cossonay-Prangins. That castle is gone now — burned in autumn 1475, when Swiss troops swept through the Pays de Vaud during the Burgundian Wars. Its wall fragments remain above the villages of La Côte, a ruin most visitors never see.

What stands at Château de Favières today is a later, humbler house: a maison de maître in the hamlet of Bugnaux, protected as part of a federal inventory of sites of national importance. The estate's own story begins, according to family tradition, in 1675. Independent records have not yet confirmed that date.

The turning point

The Savoyard Stronghold That Burned

In summer 1293, Amédée V of Savoy confiscated the fortress of Mont-le-Vieux from the Cossonay-Prangins family. For him, the ridge was not scenery — it was high ground over the route to Lake Geneva. He handed it to his brother Louis I as part of a Savoyard apanage, pulling the castle into dynastic politics.

Louis II of Savoy doubled down in 1306, creating a hereditary métralie that gave rise to the Mestral family. Then, in autumn 1475, Swiss Confederate troops arrived during the Burgundian Wars. Wooden structures inside the stone walls caught. The surrounding bourg of about twenty houses appears to have been abandoned before the flames reached it.

The castle was never rebuilt. What remains — wall fragments above the villages of La Côte — is a ruin most visitors never see. For the Savoyards, the loss was strategic. Essertines saw power scatter downhill, toward the hamlets where Château de Favières would later stand.

The Fire That Scattered a Village

In 1784, fire ravaged Essertines, destroying 22 houses, 17 barns, and 19 stables. Bernese authorities, then ruling Vaud, ordered that reconstruction not rise in contiguous rows. Owners were encouraged to rebuild outside the village. The scattered 'fermes foraines' you see today are direct descendants of that disaster — a landscape shaped by flame and bureaucracy.

The 1675 Claim

The estate's website says the family has worked this land since 1675, describing the property as 'un acte d'amour.' That date appears in no independent deed or tax record yet found. What is documented: Vivien Moinat, born 1986, registered the current company in 2022, and his sister Sabrina co-stewards the vines. Their 6.2 hectares sit entirely within the Mont-sur-Rolle appellation, farmed biodynamically. The surname Moinat also appears in the mayor's office — Marie-Pomme Moinat serves as syndique of Essertines-sur-Rolle.

Tips for visitors

  • Book ahead

    Tastings are strictly by appointment. Email [email protected] — the tourism office and the winegrowers' directory list two different phone numbers, so email avoids the guessing game.

  • Eat at the auberge

    L'Auberge de Mont in Mont-sur-Rolle does seasonal terroir cooking with two terraces facing Lake Geneva and Mont-Blanc — mid-range, proudly 'Fait Maison.' For a splurge, Le Resto by Hostellerie du Château in Rolle grills over an open fire. Its wine list is 90% Vaudois.

  • Ask before shooting

    This is a private family home and working winery. Ask permission before photographing the salon's 18th-century family portraits, the 1908 chimney with its twisted wooden columns, or the cellar.

  • Time it right

    Come on a clear autumn day during harvest (September–October), when the vines are heavy and Mont-Blanc sits sharp on the horizon. Summer 2026 brought water restrictions and fire bans to the commune — check municipal notices in dry spells.

  • Pair with the ruins

    Combine your tasting with the Ruins of Mont-le-Vieux Castle, the burned medieval citadel that gave the commune its name. Charred 15th-century stones above, living vines below — that's the whole story of this hillside.

  • Buy the rare bottles

    Ask for the Chasselas Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes or the Chasselas passerillé — a sweet wine from dried grapes that's genuinely rare. The oak-aged Merlot is an oddity in La Côte and worth a taste.

  • Walk the hamlet

    Bugnaux is a federal ISOS-protected hamlet of winegrowers' houses — quiet, residential, not a tourist zone. Stroll the lanes before your tasting, but remember people live and work here.

  • Don't confuse the castles

    You want Château de Favières in Bugnaux, not Château de Rolle on the lakeside — a different medieval castle entirely. Set navigation for Rue de Bugnaux 1, 1180 Rolle.

Frequently asked

Is Château de Favières worth visiting?

Yes, if you care about Swiss wine and want a real working estate rather than a museum. The 6.2 hectares of biodynamic vines slope toward Lake Geneva with Mont-Blanc on the horizon, and the tasting room pours Chasselas and Pinot Noir that earned Sélection des vins vaudois recognition in 2020. Just know it's a private family domaine — tastings are by appointment, not a drop-in attraction.

How do I get to Château de Favières from Geneva?

Take the train to Rolle, then bus line 840 toward Essertines-sur-Rolle — about 1 hour 9 minutes total, costing roughly CHF 13–40. By car, navigate to Rue de Bugnaux 1, 1180 Rolle, though the château actually sits in the Bugnaux hamlet. Parking is limited and unconfirmed, so call ahead.

Can you visit Château de Favières for free?

There's no admission ticket — the estate is a working winery, not a ticketed attraction. Wine tastings are by appointment only ("sur rendez-vous"), and you'll pay for whatever bottles you take home. A Sauvignon runs about CHF 28.

What is the best time to visit Château de Favières?

Autumn, during harvest, when the cellar smells of fermentation and the vine leaves turn gold. Summer gives you the clearest lake views and long evening light for terrace tastings. Winter is quiet and crisp with snow-covered Alps, but access may be limited — always confirm by email or phone first.

What should I not miss at Château de Favières?

Look up at the neo-Gothic turrets — they're what makes this 1756 manor house earn its "château" title. Then stand in the courtyard under the plane tree, part of the protected ISOS heritage site, and run your hand along its peeling, mottled bark. The covered portal (portail couvert) is easy to walk past but worth a pause.

How long do you need at Château de Favières?

A quick tasting takes 30–45 minutes. A proper visit with vineyard walk and cellar time runs 1.5–2 hours. Since it's by appointment, you control the pace — but the view over Lake Geneva deserves a slow glass, not a rushed pour.

Is Château de Favières a real castle?

Not in the medieval sense — it's a maison de maître (manor house) reconstructed in 1756, dressed up with romantic neo-Gothic turrets. The actual medieval castle in the area, Mont-le-Vieux, was burned by Swiss troops in 1475 and survives only as wall fragments above the Châtel hamlet. The "château" title here comes from local usage and the estate's long family history, not fortifications.

What wines does Château de Favières produce?

The estate grows Chasselas, Auxerrois, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Gamaret, and Garanoir across 6.2 hectares in the Mont-sur-Rolle appellation. Standouts include a Chasselas Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes, a rare Chasselas passerillé (sweet wine from dried grapes), and a barrel-aged Pinot Noir. The 2019 Chasselas Millésime and 2018 Pinot Noir both earned Sélection des vins vaudois recognition in 2020.

Sources & attribution 9

Researched and written by the Audiala editorial team from historical records, architectural archives, and local expertise. Last reviewed August 2026.

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