The Schenk family story begins with Charles Schenk, a cooper to whom we owe a legendary 23,500 litre barrel.

His son Arnold, worked alongside Charles and developed the trading business while acquiring several estates in Switzerland. In 1915, Arnold founded the first branch abroad, in Sète, in the South of France.

Between Switzerland and France, the Schenk family of the time knew how to adapt to the growing demand of the markets. Armed with curiosity and a good business sense, Arnold then developed a passion for the Spanish vineyard and created Bodegas MURVIEDRO in Utiel-Requena in 1927. For almost a century, the Schenk family has nurtured deep ties with the Iberian Peninsula and has established itself as one of the key players in the wine industry in Spain.

1944 Grapillon, it’s so good! In the context of the Second World War, sugar was running out in Switzerland. Arnold Schenk then launched the first branded grape juice, Grapillon. It was a huge success that was exported throughout Europe and left a lasting mark on several generations. Grapillon is considered an iconic Swiss brand. The France Switzerland Spain activities were developing well. The company was growing and targeting new territories.

It will be Italy from 1952! Based in Trentino-Alto Adige, Schenk family Italy is today one of the most important producers and exporters of Italian wines. A large team of experienced professionals oversees the entire production process of several wineries and estates in the most important Italian wine regions. The exchange of skills between countries strengthens the family spirit and gradually composes an exceptional European wine culture.

1961, new wave of acquisitions in Switzerland with the purchase of Maison Obrist, whose portfolio is one of the most prestigious in the country: Clos du Rocher, Cure d’Attalens, Château de Vinzel, Maison Obrist in Vevey, Château de Chardonne to name only the most famous… Schenk family affirms its ambitions as a wine producer. An activity related to that of trading, production is the implementation of the preservation of this living heritage: the terroirs, the landscapes and the buildings. This orientation becomes a major axis of the development of the Family’s activities.

Curious, travelers, collectors, the members of the Schenk family acquired, in 1964, the Domaine Henri de Villamont, a sublime jewel of Burgundian architecture. Burgundy is a place of nobility that clings to the know-how of the Family. Among these Burgundy vineyards, we find the very famous Clos des Guettes in Savigny-lès-Beaune, one of the most beautiful estates of Henri de Villamont, a Grand Cru in Grands Echezeaux, but also vines in Côte-de-Nuits, including the Premier Cru “Les Chatelots” in Chambolle-Musigny. All are exclusively harvested by hand.

This was followed by 30 years of intense commercial development that showcased the incredible portfolio of brands and the Swiss, Spanish, Italian and French regions that the Schenk family can boast of. From 1964 to 1995, the Schenk family built its sales networks throughout Europe. Germany in 1964, then Bordeaux in 1972, Benelux in 1978, the United Kingdom in 1994 and then a very strong Swiss-French player, Bolle in 1995. This deployment was a profound transformation of the corporate culture that had become pan-European. The challenge was to preserve this family spirit. To ensure that each country was firmly anchored in their respective territories, while working together to ensure the success of the Group.

Once the production-sales balance has been found, a new wave of targeted acquisitions is being set up: welcoming prestigious estates and brands into the Family, which are important references. The sales networks are ready to deploy an offer like no other, driven by a very positive mindset around uninhibited wine, one that is driven by passion. From 2008 to 2021, no fewer than 8 French, Italian, Spanish and Swiss estates have joined the Schenk family: Badoux, Castello di Querceto, Château d’Aigueville, Bodegas Hispano+Suizas, Bacio della Luna, Testuz, Lunadoro, Casa Lo Alto and Masso Antico.

September 2023, the Schenk Group becomes the Schenk family. Under the leadership of the 4th and 5th generations, the company is transforming, notably integrating the digital and sustainable shift into its business model. This places the strong brands in its portfolio at the heart of its priorities. Attached to magnificent estates and terroirs, these brands celebrate the preservation of the know-how, landscapes and varietal characteristics from which their wines come. The next big step for the company is the opening in 2024 of an eco-responsible winery among the most beautiful in Europe, which will operate without any fossil fuel. It is in Rolle, Switzerland, the birthplace of the Schenk family, that the historic cellar built by Arnold Schenk will be given a facelift, thus embodying the values of a company firmly rooted in its time.