Julie Roeslé-Fuchs

I’m an oenologist trained in France and I currently teach winemaking techniques at the Ecole de Changins wine school. I’m also responsible for the pilot winery and the winemaking process at the school.

My passion. Passing on my know-how and my passion by teaching future winemaking professionals is a source of motivation and inspiration every day. Another source of motivation is of course the multitude of wines to be made every year. And I like going through the production process with the students – I get to create wines and teach at the same time.

My career path. I was an oenologist in the private sector and was given the opportunity to combine teaching and my passion. I wanted to try and bring the two together – and I succeeded ! A support ? The person who hired me, who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to develop as a teacher.

A downside or obstacle ? Each year, I make around 150 barrels of wine. It’s as if I had 150 children – it takes up a lot of time, energy, love, and it can be frustrating at times. Fifteen years ago, women were still in the minority in the wine trade. It was really hard for me to make a place for myself in a different country – Switzerland – as a woman, oenologist and the mother of a young girl at the time.

I’m proud that I get to see young students flourishing in their work and that I stay in touch with them to help them in their future projects. I’m also proud of my ability to teach what is at the heart of the job – keeping your hands in the grapes right through the winemaking process. And I’m able
to adjust to any situation, both in terms of people and wine. I’m good at organizing, which helps me to develop practical projects with our students.