A family history since 1807

The Coulon family originates from Cornus in Rouergue (France). Paul Coulon (1731–1820), the common Protestant ancestor of the family, left France for religious reasons in 1754 and settled first in Geneva, then in Neuchâtel. The family was ennobled by Frederick William IV, King of Prussia, on July 17, 1847, in recognition of services rendered to the Principality of Neuchâtel during the Sonderbund Civil War. Today, Romain, Paul and Oskar represent the eighth generation of the family in Eclépens.

The Estate is now managed by François and Daria.

François has been in charge of the wine and agricultural estate since 2007. Initially part-time, he has been full-time since January 1, 2010, when he took over the Estate from his father Georges, who had thoroughly modernized it starting in 1981. After several experiences abroad, François returned to Switzerland in 2007. He quickly set new directions in vineyard cultivation and winemaking, before transitioning the entire Estate to organic farming on January 1, 2017.

Today, François leads a team of four employees, all highly committed to the life of the Estate. His thoughts are primarily for future generations. He strives to cultivate excellence in the vineyards, wines, and products from the Estate’s lands, with respect for organic and sustainable farming. As Saint-Exupéry said, we are merely passing through on this earth. François therefore likes to remind us that the Estate belongs to him only for a time: he is borrowing it from his children and the generations to come.

Daria is the great-granddaughter of a great Russian writer who died in 1910, a branch of whose family settled in Sweden in 1917. Her multidisciplinary education includes biology (Master of Science from Lund University), economics (INSEAD, Paris), and brief therapy (Gregory Bateson Institute). Alongside her therapy activities, Daria is responsible for organizing the events and festivities held throughout the year on the Estate. The château and its gardens host many occasions: tastings, corporate meals, annual outings, birthday parties, wedding receptions, aperitifs, and celebrations in the gardens.