Exlterra and NEPS Support a Pioneer in High-Altitude Viticulture
- Kavin Venkat
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
For the first time, a private vineyard has been planted in La Clusaz, France, thanks to the vision and determination of local resident Fabien Merotto. Owning a piece of land at the foot of the Aravis mountains—and being a devoted wine enthusiast—Fabien wondered: Could wine truly be grown at 4,000 feet in the French Alps?
As both an engineer and the owner of a masonry company, Fabien lives by a simple rule: when faced with a question of feasibility, sometimes the only way to know is to try.
With support from winemaker friends, he planted 300 vines in April 2023. He chose the Altesse B grape variety, believed to be best suited for La Clusaz’s demanding conditions. A total of 18 rows, spaced four feet apart, with 17 vines each, were carefully installed - but Mother Nature quickly reminded Fabien of the challenges of high-altitude viticulture. In spring 2025, mildew struck the private vineyard, and he lost 80% of his young vines, which were too fragile to resist the attack.
Determined not to give up, Fabien looked for solutions. Learning about the remarkable results achieved with NEPS on the vineyards of Stéphane Gros in Geneva, Switzerland, he decided to bring the sustainable technology to La Clusaz.
On a beautiful September day in 2025, our authorized French installer, Setex Pro Paysage, installed the NEPS system in Fabien’s vineyard.
With NEPS in place, nutrients will gradually rise to the root systems, strengthening the vines’ natural defenses and giving them the vigor needed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Alps.
Fabien’s journey is only beginning, but his bold experiment could mark the start of a new chapter in high-altitude winemaking - and Exlterra is proud to support him every step of the way.
Interested? Learn more or find a licensed installer near you today!
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