Epicurean Experience 2025

Three-course dinner in the Johnson Family Wine Cave

After arriving at Château d’Hauteville and taking a tour of its incredible structures and landscapes, we’ll kick off things with a three-course meal in the Johnson Family Wine Cave. This evening gathering will provide you an opportunity to connect with your fellow travelers—and foodies—and enjoy the magnificent talents of the château’s own culinary staff. Nestled intimately underground in the site where the Grand d’Hauteville family’s own wine was pressed and produced, you’ll be immersed right from the start of your exploratory trip in the wonderful history of this space that dates back nearly three centuries.

l’Alpage du Marais

Following a brief orientation during breakfast served in the château’s Orangerie, we will head to the cheese factory of Château d’Hauteville’s personal farmer, Alexander Kurmann, in Grimentz. Following a tour and tasting at the factory, we will enjoy a traditional raclette lunch at l’Alpage du Marais, a restaurant with breathtaking views of the Alps and surrounding mountain pastures.

Bonvin

Dating back to 1858, Bonvin is the oldest wine house in Valais, Switzerland, featuring 150 vintages under its house label. Bonvin was awarded the title of Swiss Winery of the Year in 2014, and continues to please wine connoisseurs who visit from around the world. We will join that growing group of enotourists, sipping various varietals under the cover of the Mazots du Clos du Château, spaces previously used by Bonvin’s winemakers as their shelters and storehouses.

Michelin-starred restaurant visit #1

As your travel to Switzerland will overlap with the height of game season, we would be remiss not to take our guests to a Michelin-starred restaurant featuring meats found in the wild landscapes of the region. Together you and your fellow travelers will taste local delicacies such as fresh venison, deer filet mignon, braised lamb shank, and wild boar cheek—and of course these regional specialties will be paired with top-of-the-line wines that best complement their unique flavors.

On Tuesday, we will “divide and conquer,” with half of the Epicurean Experience group visiting Changins in the morning while the other half visits Prangins. Then we will join together at one of the two locations for lunch, and split up again so those who visited Changins can now explore Prangins, and vice versa. 

Changins

Tour one of the premier Swiss viticulture schools in Nyon, where students make their way through the grapevine, learning all there is to know about wine and the plants that source it. This peaceful environment with lush rows of grapes provides both a meditative experience as well as an educational one. Of course our visit wouldn’t be complete without the sampling of some rich bouquets, which we will enjoy while soaking up the knowledge of our tour guides, each of whom are experts on all things wine.

Prangins

The Swiss National Museum is unique in its layout, with locations in Zurich, Schwyz, and Vaud. Château Prangins is one of the “thirds” of this geographically dispersed museum located in the latter region, where visitors can view the stunning estate that was once inhabited by famous French author and philosopher Voltaire as well as Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s older brother. The current structure dates back to the 1700s, but the earliest record of political and cultural activity at the site is from the year 1096. Travel deep into European history at Prangins, and enjoy the dedicated exhibit of theatrical sets from Château d’Hauteville.

David Chocolat

Sink your teeth into the nougats, orangettes, panaches, bars, squares, spreads, and clusters, flavored with fruits, nuts, caramels, and chilis at the exquisite Vevey location of David Chocolatier. The taste alone of these handcrafted delicacies is enough to impress, but with his dedication to excellence, the chocolate creations of David Pasquiet are visually stunning too. From elegantly textured bars to colorful, spherical ganaches representing the planets of the solar system, your eyes will be as tantalized as your tastebuds. 

LeMarquis

Sample the smooth, rich library of chocolate varieties overseen by award-winning chocolatier Geoffroy LeMarquis, who creates one-of-a-kind flavors—and textures—of the classic dairy-based treat, appealing to the senses of a wide audience of chocolate lovers. Some of his unique creations have even incorporated dried pears and Valais flower petals. LeMarquis has been sought after his passion for creating delicious chocolate items since childhood, and his tremendous grasp of the craft shows in the gold and bronze medals he has won at past Swiss Local Products Competitions in the region. In addition to tasting some of LeMarquis’ signature items, this outing in Blonay will also offer the chance to explore the chocolate factory’s store, which features a mixture of playful and classically designed chocolate bars—great for gifts or to treat yourself during your stay in Switzerland.

Michelin-starred restaurant visit #2

The only thing better than one dining experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant is another meal at a second, award-winning location! With an abundance of top-notch eateries in southwestern Switzerland, our group of the culinary curious will be privileged to enjoy another meal at a restaurant that will be hand selected by your Pepperdine team at the château. More specific details are to come, but you can certainly count on leaving this excursion with a satisfied palate. 

Château d’Hauteville grape harvest

If the timing is right and the château’s grapes are ready to be harvested, we will join our winemaker in the vineyard to partake in the harvest. It is an exciting time of promise for the next vintage!

Château d’Hauteville cooking class

Tour the château’s commercial kitchen and see where all of the culinary magic happens. Then, we will create some magic of our own as our chef guides us in crafting some Swiss delicacies which, of course, we will then enjoy tasting ourselves.

Dinner at Hotel de Ville

Both a three-Michelin star restaurant and one that boasts a 19/20 score in the highly reputed Gault et Millau guide, the Restaurant de l’Hotel DeVille will serve up a dinner that may likely end up in your list of Top Ten Meals of All Time. Currently led by Franck Giovannini, the elite team in this kitchen is sure to have you talking about the dishes they serve for years to come. Known affectionately by regular patrons as “Crissier,” this quaint space is located in what was once the town’s city hall. 

Lunch at EHL

Experience a multiple course meal at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, within its on-site teaching restaurant Berceau des Sens—which translates to “The Cradle of the Senses.” A Michelin-starred restaurant in its own right, this is a truly transformative place where future world-class culinary artists train under renowned international chef Lucrece Lacchio—and who are counting on the vote of confidence from your palate to assure they are on the right career path. 

Building	Beds	Amenities	Week Price	Availability
Garden House | Single Bed Option	1 twin bed per room	shared restroom/shower facilities	$800	3 single-bed rooms
Garden House | Double Bed Option	1 double bed per room | 2 twin-size mattresses set alongside each other	shared restroom/shower facilities	$1,000	5 double-bed rooms
L'Orangerie Apartment	2 bedrooms | bedroom one has 1 queen bed and bedroom two has a single bed and a pair of bunk beds	accommodates a family or a group of five, equipped with private kitchen, bathroom, powder room, living room, washer and dryer	$6,000	1 reservation
Birch House (Gatehouse)	3 rooms, 3 king beds | 1 room, queen bed	accommodates up to 8 people, private kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms rooms with king beds and 1 room with queen bed, 2 full bathrooms, laundry room	$9,000	2 reservations

Garden House

L'Orangerie Apartment

Birch House (Gatehouse)

Area hotels for families with children under the age of eight, or families who choose not to stay overnight at the château:

• Modern Times Hotel(Marriott)
  
  Four-star hotel near Chaplin's World Museum. Easily walkable to and from the château property for daily participation in château events and meals. To make your reservation, visit the hotel's website and use promotion code "Pepperdine" to receive the discounted rate. Room rates include breakfast and parking; taxes are not included. Email contact: reservation@moderntimeshotel.ch
• Astra Hotel
  
  Four-star hotel with easy access to a nearby train station. To make your reservation, visit the hotel's website and use promotion code "malibu25" to receive the discounted rate.
• Hotel des Trois Couronnes
  
  

  Five-star hotel alongside the shore of Lake Geneva, in Vevey. Approximately two miles from the château, a five- to six-minute drive.

• Grand Hôtel du Lac
  
  Five-star boutique hotel near Hotel des Trois Couronnes, several restaurants, and the picturesque region of La Tour-de-Peilz. Approximately two miles from the château, a five- to six-minute drive.