From the Giachino family history to the legacy of Michel Grisard

In 1988, Frédéric Giachino took over 1.5 hectares from his grandfather, Marius Genton. From then on, the estate devoted itself exclusively to viticulture, following several centuries of mixed farming in the Grésivaudan area. In 2006, David joined his brother on the estate to bring the initiatives undertaken there to fruition by switching to organic farming. Then, in 2015, it was the turn of Clément, Frédéric’s son, to contribute to the family project. A welcome pair of hands to take over the 6.5 hectares of vines from Michel Grisard, a pioneer of organic farming in Savoie and a great champion of rare grape varieties.

A landscape shaped by the collapse of Mont Granier

The Domaine Giachino is situated at the foot of Mont Granier, whose geology and, above all, its famous history have shaped the origins of this Savoie terroir.

During the night of 24–25 November 1248, Mont Granier collapsed, dislodging a mass of 500 million cubic metres. Mudflows then carried limestone boulders weighing several hundred cubic metres over distances of more than 8 km. This disaster engulfed five villages and claimed the lives of over a thousand people. The landslide created a chaotic landscape consisting of varied formations, predominantly clay-limestone, intermingled with large, largely unweathered boulders.

The vineyards of Domaine Giachino are partly situated on these clay-limestone scree slopes (for Apremont, Monfarina and Mondeuse). They are also located on the moraines of the ancient Grésivaudan glaciers (for La Roussette), with some vines over 70 years old.

A wide variety of indigenous grape varieties from Savoie at the Giachino estate

The Giachino estate grows almost all the traditional indigenous grape varieties that give the wines of Savoie their distinctive character:

Organic and biodynamic farming in support of biodiversity

It is a long-standing commitment to the protection of nature and the environment that has guided David and Frédéric Giachino in their farming choices. They began with Organic Farming in 2006, followed by Biodynamic Farming a few years later. This approach is not merely a quest for a label, but a genuine return to the roots of agriculture, the primary aim of which is the constant improvement of product authenticity.

This is evidenced by the reintroduction of natural predators to reduce the use of pesticides, or the complete elimination of weedkillers, synthetic chemicals and other insecticides. Use of natural products: nettle manure, herbal decoctions and infusions, non-toxic compounds (copper and sulphur).

Nature & Progress

Beyond the technical constraints of organic farming, it is a genuine social vision that drives the Giachino family’s approach. This is why the estate is committed to the ‘Nature & Progrès’ initiative. This is a broader certification that not only sets out technical specifications but also takes environmental, social and economic aspects into account. This charter is underpinned by a vision for society based on friendly, close-knit relationships between people and their environment. A humanistic, ecological and alternative society.

Giachino: Savoie wines produced using minimalist and natural winemaking techniques

Because a wine is first and foremost made in the vineyard, the winemaking process is minimalist. Very little copper, very little sulphur, cold settling for the whites, exclusively indigenous yeasts, and ageing on the lees until bottling.

A few photos of the Giachino estate in Savoie

(Source : Domaine Giachino)