"Thanks to its unique composition with its four linguistically and culturally different regions and the strong wine culture, Switzerland is a very important wine market," says CEO Ursula Beutler. "Its diversity makes Switzerland a very interesting market."

A long tradition continues

Weinkellereien Aarau AG has now been serving this market for exactly 150 years. Their success is largely based on long-term, partnership-oriented relationships with winemakers and customers. In May 2022, Ursula Beutler took over as the new CEO of the family business.

"I have been in the wine industry for over 30 years," says Ursula Beutler, whose résumé includes top positions at luxury retailers Globus and Manor as well as at discount retailer Denner. "I probably would have carried on quite happily there if I hadn't been asked whether I wanted to take over here. I see myself as a naturally curious person and therefore like to take on new challenges when they arise. That's why I decided to join Weinkellereien Aarau AG."

Personal Contact Counts

The ability to make a difference was another incentive for Ursula Beutler: "We are a classic SME where everyone can contribute and also has the opportunity to develop. People are at the center of everything we do," confirms the CEO. "In an area that depends so much on personal relationships, personal contact is extremely important. That's why I am on the road a lot, either visiting clients, producers, or at international fairs. Our goal is to convince with our expertise and services and to build long-term partnerships."

From Grape to Glass

The range of services of the Aarau wineries includes purchasing, storage, bottling, logistics, customer-specific services, and the sale of selected wines from Switzerland, Europe, and overseas. The assortment includes wines that are almost exclusively distributed in Switzerland on an exclusive basis by the Aarau wineries.

"We guide the wines from the grape to the glass," describes Ursula Beutler. "We can offer the most modern cellar technology and gentle care of the wines. Thanks to our modern bottling plant, we work efficiently and save energy. With our high-tech high-bay warehouse and our own fleet, we can fulfill customer orders on time and execute them flexibly."

Made Sustainability a Goal

One of the most important topics that will determine the future direction of the company is sustainability. "We set ourselves the goal back in 2016 to become more sustainable from both an ecological and a business perspective," says Ursula Beutler. "The company has already made good progress towards this goal."

In addition to organic certification, Aarau Wineries expect to complete their certification as a sustainable company. 'In the fall of 2021, we installed a photovoltaic system on our roof, which allows us to produce 60% of our electricity ourselves. Given the rising energy costs, this has more than paid off,' adds Ursula Beutler. Tank transport and in-house bottling reduce CO2 emissions.

Always Ahead of Time

Aarau Wineries has always been ahead of its time. As early as 1959, it installed a semi-automated bottling plant capable of handling 6,000 bottles per hour. In 1999, the first fully automated high-bay warehouse in Switzerland was built on the company's premises. In 2016, a climate-controlled tank hall with a capacity of two million liters was constructed.

'Thanks to technical advancements, there are no more bad wine years,' knows Ursula Beutler. 'Instead, the problem is achieving the desired volume. For example, the yield of Swiss wine in 2021 was 40% below average. Drought, frost, hail, and heavy rain are the challenges for winegrowers. That's why they need a strong partner who can pay a fair price.' The future trend is strongly towards locality. 'The non-alcoholic sector is also growing,' reports Ursula Beutler. 'Many are still skeptical, just like 25 years ago, when the first organic wines found no resonance – today, sensorially, no one notices the difference.'