Le Château des Crêtes
This prestigious domain, which is situated at the entrance to Montreux, is one of the Vevey-Montreux Winery's leading appellations. Although it is perched on a hill, it is barely visible from the cantonal road bordering Lake Geneva. You therefore have to climb a little in order to admire the curious red-bricked silhouette of the Château des Crêtes in its charming setting in Clarens-Montreux. It is a silhouette that passengers on the boats do not fail to notice from the lake.
The history of the castle is closely bound to the site and to literature. It was built in 1864 by Vincent Dubochet, a burger of Chailly-Clarens and a prominent Montreux figure, on the presumed site of 'Julie's Grove' - which is described in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Julie or The New Heloise - a magnificent chestnut grove and a park, a veritable panoramic viewpoint of cool shade overlooking the shores of Lake Geneva. We say "presumed" as it was fashionable at the end of this romantic century for residents of the area to claim the groves for themselves.
The south-facing vineyards offer optimal conditions for the grapes to ripen in. The stock of vines is composed of Chasselas, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Garanoir and Cabernet franc.
