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Thomas Donatsch ****, one of Switzerland's most important winegrowing personalities, died unexpectedly on Monday at the age of 75 in his home municipality of Malans. Donatsch was a winegrowing pioneer who played a significant role in the reputation of his region, the Bündner Herrschaft, and Switzerland as a winegrowing country.
From 1971, he travelled regularly to Burgundy and became friends with André Noblet, the cellar master at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Two years later, he gave him three used La Tâche barrels as a gift. This made Donatsch the first Swiss winemaker to age wine in barriques. In 1975, he was the first to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc in the Bündner Herrschaft, which were not yet legally authorised at the time. From 1983, he also experimented with Cabernet Sauvignon and was the first person in Switzerland to produce a Crémant using the Champagne method.
In 2019, Thomas Donatsch received the Prix Ami du Vin from the Swiss Association of Wine Enthusiasts ANAV for his life's work. The Donatsch winery has been run by his son Martin for several years.
(al / source: facebook)