Our region has talent: Grand-Père Cornut

Did you grow up here or did you choose to live here later on?

I’m originally from Vouvry in Valais. I was a forester-logger for many years, then I moved to Crans-Montana with my wife for her work. In 1991, I set up my own business as a landscape gardener and bought some land in Nayes (hence the company name Jardins de Nayes Sàrl), before I started to develop my different products.

You’re Grand-Père Cornut. What led you to this business and what do you love about it?

I love tasting, and travelling to discover new flavours and find new and different tastes, and I love to innovate. All of these passions have resulted in the development of my products. First of all, I set off on a journey to explore new tastes and smells, and then afterwards I create unique products.

What is special about your business, and what do you think sets it apart from others?

I try to bring the real taste - as natural as possible - of fruit, mountain herbs, the garden, exotic fruits, roots and spices from all round the world, to make products which taste good and which cannot be found anywhere else This is why the selection of products that I use is essential, in order to create products that are out of the ordinary. And of course, the grandfather character contributes a lot too: I’m joking all day long, I’m the Cornut-virus (laughs)!

What is the story behind your business, your products?

I started off with the syrups. I used to go to markets and sell syrups in Valaisan bottles that made men think it was wine. Women were attracted to the products and wanted to buy them, but when their husbands realised that it was syrup, they talked them out of it!

Then one day, I decided to make something different, something that was typical of Crans-Montana. By mixing apple, Trubelstock genepi, juniper from Cordona and fir buds that I harvest from Aminona, I created the "Sève de l’Arbre", one of my flagship products today. At the beginning I made it in a 20° and 30° liqueur, but now women only drink the 30°, they want it even drier and stronger (laughs)!

How has this very peculiar Covid period been for you? How have you had to adapt?

Financially, it’s really not easy. I normally do 5 markets a week, and this season I did 8 in total… in the end, thanks to my positive nature, I always manage ! I’ve been self-employed for 33 years, and I’m 5 years away from retirement, this isn’t the moment to give up! This winter, I brought my stand to the square in Montana, and kept it open until 7 March to provide a bit of entertainment. It’s a considerable investment, but down in the valley, there’s nothing left...

What motivates you to work in Crans-Montana and what are its strengths?

It’s a magical resort, with its ski slopes, beautiful squares and the very interesting cosmopolitan setting, which is really developing. You can meet locals and people from all over the world. It’s a small, friendly village which has lots going on all year round, and which offers activities for everyone, and it’s really pretty lively… all this and it’s no more expensive than anywhere else!

What’s your favourite place in Crans-Montana, your secret spot?

I like to walk above Crans-Montana. As I used to be a forester, I like walking on my own in the forest, admiring the valley from up there.

What’s your best memory in Crans-Montana, something that has marked you?

A long time ago, I was a firewood delivery man. I had to deliver wood to Gilbert Bécaud and I had my 4-year-old daughter with me. When I arrived, he was singing on his terrace, playing his piano on wheels. When he saw us, he took my daughter on his lap and sang to her, it was incredible!

What would you like to see develop in Crans-Montana?

I would like to see a nice craft market all year round. There isn’t a shop here that promotes local products and which also has an area with seating where you can taste local produce. The demand for a project like this is real and apparent, lots of my customers ask for something like this.

For more information about Grand-Père Cornut, to organise a tasting session (booking required) and to discover the unique flavours of Grand-Père Cornut’s liqueurs, schnapps, syrups, sugar and other products, visit his website www.grandperecornut.com

And you'll find a list of all the distilleries in Crans-Montana.