Fountain of the Wine Society
Description
The fountain on this stage is not a classic fountain. It is simply the base of a granite wine press dating from 1871, but it has only been here for about ten years, since the tennis courts were inaugurated. The base of the press came from the HĂ´tel de Ville in Bex, where, before becoming a decorative object, it was used until the 19th century as an instrument for processing grapes. Most public establishments had one in their cellar.
But let's get back to today. At first glance, there is nothing in common between an old wine press and a place dedicated to lovers of small round balls. However, Roger's and Stan's emulators make their exchanges on a piece of land that was partly, for more than a century, the property of the Société vinicole de Bex, located in a farm acquired in 1903. This company experienced great financial difficulties at the beginning of this century. The commune of Bex then acquired all the buildings and land of the cooperative in 2009. The Wine Society is still located here near the tennis courts. It brings together some 50 members who produce 150,000 kilos of grapes and as many bottles each year, i.e. about 20% of the Bellerin vineyard; the rest is made up of private individuals who have their own cellars. This winegrowers' cooperative has known the great hours of harvesting and vinification, which was literally done at home, but modernisation has imposed many changes. The active members of the Vinicole de Bex can still use the cellar to store their loads of grapes for a few hours, but the vinification is done elsewhere, partly in Aigle and the bottling in Rolle. The wine storage and marketing are done in the Bellerin cellar. La Vinicole has therefore had to share its buildings with the other needs of the company, the tennis court, but also a room for combat sports and another space for the musicians of the Harmonie du Chablais.
The fountain on this stage is not a classic fountain. It is simply the base of a granite wine press dating from 1871, but it has only been here for about ten years, since the tennis courts were inaugurated. The base of the press came from the HĂ´tel de Ville in Bex, where, before becoming a decorative object, it was used until the 19th century as an instrument for processing grapes. Most public establishments had one in their cellar.
But let's get back to today. At first glance, there is nothing in common between an old wine press and a place dedicated to lovers of small round balls. However, Roger's and Stan's emulators make their exchanges on a piece of land that was partly, for more than a century, the property of the Société vinicole de Bex, located in a farm acquired in 1903. This company experienced great financial difficulties at the beginning of this century. The commune of Bex then acquired all the buildings and land of the cooperative in 2009. The Wine Society is still located here near the tennis courts. It brings together some 50 members who produce 150,000 kilos of grapes and as many bottles each year, i.e. about 20% of the Bellerin vineyard; the rest is made up of private individuals who have their own cellars. This winegrowers' cooperative has known the great hours of harvesting and vinification, which was literally done at home, but modernisation has imposed many changes. The active members of the Vinicole de Bex can still use the cellar to store their loads of grapes for a few hours, but the vinification is done elsewhere, partly in Aigle and the bottling in Rolle. The wine storage and marketing are done in the Bellerin cellar. La Vinicole has therefore had to share its buildings with the other needs of the company, the tennis court, but also a room for combat sports and another space for the musicians of the Harmonie du Chablais.