For years, my name has systematically come up whenever a controversy erupts in the Valais wine sector. However, it's important to understand that it's not an individual who's at fault, but an entire industry that has to face up to its own failings. Every time there's a scandal or suspicion in this industry, the spotlight automatically turns to me, even when I'm not directly involved. It's time to put things in their proper place: Valais winegrowing is an interdependent sector, where wineries work together for commercial, logistical and operational reasons.
The natural interconnection of the cellars
It's important to understand that in the wine world, wineries don't operate in isolation. They exchange stocks, work together on production projects, and are constantly in contact with each other. This interdependence is crucial to the smooth running of the industry. However, it also means that when an irregularity occurs in one winery, other wineries can be named or linked to the case, even if they are not responsible. In this context, it has become all too easy to systematically associate my name with every problem, thereby obscuring the more complex reality of this sector.
An excessive focus on myself
In both recent and past cases, my involvement has sometimes been over-emphasised in order to generate media coverage.
It's important to remember, however, that I have been acquitted of several major charges. For example, in the case of wine manipulation in 2009, where I was wrongly accused of mixing Fendant with Saint-Saphorin, after a meticulous investigation, I was cleared in 2014. Similarly, with regard to certain tax charges, I have seen several charges dropped. These acquittals are not always well publicised, leaving room for a skewed perception in public opinion.
Media obsession and the need for nuance
The current media treatment of me illustrates a tendency to simplify complex matters. I've become a kind of emblem of the wine industry's problems, an easy scapegoat for a sector struggling with its own difficulties. But doing so distracts attention from the wider structural problems affecting the Valais wine industry as a whole.
Every scandal, whether it's fraud, counterfeiting or questionable management, is a reminder that it's the industry itself that needs to look inwards. Rather than focusing on me personally, we need to recognise that these difficulties are systemic. Cellars are interconnected, practices are sometimes opaque, and competition for market share is increasingly intense. This reality merits close scrutiny and greater transparency to restore public confidence.
A sector in need of rethinking
The entire Valais wine industry needs to be rethought. Recent cases illustrate the limits of a system that needs to adapt to modern demands for transparency and rigour. It is essential for the wine industry to examine its practices and accept that the problems it faces will not be solved by pointing an accusing finger at just one person. The challenges are many: managing production quotas, combating wine counterfeiting, and the need for better regulation are all issues that require a collective response.
A vision for the future of Valais winegrowing
Despite the many storms I have weathered, I remain deeply committed to producing wines of excellence. I ask for neither pity nor compassion, only justice. I would like my name to be judged on my present actions, on the quality of the wines I produce today, and not on past affairs that have already been judged and redressed.
It's time for the Valais wine industry to wake up to the challenges that lie ahead. We need to focus on concrete solutions to strengthen the transparency and integrity of this sector, which is essential to the regional economy. If the industry fails to take the necessary introspective look, the same mistakes will be repeated, and it will be producers, consumers and the reputation of the Valais that will suffer the consequences.
