Women in Wine
I am Nadine Besson-Strasser, an oenologist, and I run our biodynamic Besson-Strasser winery on the Rhine Falls in its second generation together with my husband Cédric Besson. We are continuing what my parents built with conviction—with living soils, manual labor, and the aspiration to make the origin tangible in the glass. I am also the mother of two teenagers, so I know that good things take time – and sometimes strong nerves.
How do you usually introduce yourself when you’re not talking to other wine professionals?
As a winemaker, because no one in our region knows what oenologists do and usually confuses it with urologists…
Do you remember the moment when you thought:
“Yes – that’s exactly what I want to do”?
Oh yes, very clearly, because I actually wanted to become a teacher and did my high school diploma. After that, I was able to enjoy a few months in California on a language study trip, and of course I visited Napa Valley and all its beautiful wineries. That’s when I first saw how beautiful it can be on a winery, because at home you only see the work, for example when we had to harvest or bottle wine during the holidays. As we all know, being away from home makes you appreciate what you have… In any case, from then on it was clear to me that I had to become an oenologist, and I wanted to learn from a woman. I was lucky enough to learn from Marie-Thérèse Chappaz, who was still very small and family-run at the time, so I still have a good relationship with her today.
If your wines had personalities, how would you describe them?
I think, just like in a school class, there are some quiet candidates who need a little time to open up, and then there are those who rub people up the wrong way because they are still a little “rough around the edges.” But they are all honest wines without any frills, each with their own personality.
What often surprises people about your wines, your region, or your everyday work?
Above all, the region is still very unknown here, even though we have the beautiful name “Zürcher Weinland” (Zurich Wine Country). But we are working on it, and who knows, if several winemakers in our region can position themselves with good wines, we will also become better known, just as our colleagues in Graubünden have managed to do. But it’s already a pleasure when we have visitors from western Switzerland and they fall so in love with our region that they turn a day trip into a several-day stay because they’ve discovered swimming in the Rhine, biking in Cholfirst, or hiking in the vineyards.
Your favorite way to enjoy your wines:
Actually, we hardly ever drink our wine, as there are so many other wines to discover. When we do, it’s a mature vintage with a festive meal, with people I like and who also appreciate wine. They don’t have to be professionals, but you have to feel their appreciation and interest in wine.
A food combination you love – beyond the classic or expected pairings?
Riesling and ceviche always work… but I’m always open to new things!
A little ritual or habit that is part of your everyday life – especially during the harvest?
During the harvest, we are like a family as a team, eating and drinking together. And every evening, there is something delicious in the glasses of fellow winemakers (mostly F & D) when we take a break in the cellar, which gives energy and motivation for the mind and body…
What does “Women in Wine” mean to you personally?
Women in Wine – a good exchange between us female winemakers/oenologists, because our association “Nous Artisanes” focuses on exactly that. Women who accompany their wines from the vineyard to the cellar to the bottle. www.artisanes.ch
Complete the sentence:
A great glass of wine should move you… and trigger positive emotions.
