GFI’s acquisition of Château de La Rivière, introduced on 30 July, marks its first enterprise into the wine sector and alerts formidable plans to construct a prestigious viticultural portfolio. A sale worth wasn’t disclosed.
Finalised after six months of hypothesis and negotiations, the deal ends the Bordeaux Proper Financial institution property’s possession by the Chinese language Bolian group for the reason that finish of 2013.
Perched atop the limestone plateaux of Fronsac, the 100-hectare Château de La Rivière property has 65 hectares (ha) beneath vine and produces Merlot-driven reds, Sauvignon-based whites, and rosés.
Its huge 8ha underground cellars home greater than 700,000 bottles and have made it a beacon for wine tourism, drawing 20,000 to 30,000 guests yearly.
GFI, backed by Signet’s worldwide community in London, Zurich, Limassol and Abu Dhabi, specialises in meals, beverage and agriculture investments with a give attention to European markets.
In a press launch despatched to Decanter, Signet expressed its dedication to preserving the château’s cultural heritage whereas enhancing operations and boosting gross sales of its acclaimed Fronsac wines.
The group prolonged gratitude to the earlier proprietor, Madame Lau, for her exemplary stewardship.
Main the property into its subsequent chapter is Sébastien Lengthy, appointed president by Signet. Previously with Treasury Wine Estates, Lengthy brings experience from managing estates within the Médoc. ‘I’m thrilled to tackle this problem,’ Lengthy mentioned.
‘Regardless of the present difficulties, we have now full confidence in Bordeaux’s wine trade and are proud to hold ahead Château de La Rivière’s extraordinary legacy.’
Lengthy goals to reorganise the wine vary and make investments considerably in winery and vineyard upgrades to raise high quality.
Xavier Buffo, the property’s long-standing director, welcomed the transition: ‘These new traders convey recent dynamism and sources to modernise manufacturing and speed up gross sales.’
Whereas the location of Château de La Rivière is believed to this point again centuries, the property’s latest possession historical past has been affected by two tragic air crashes.
In 2002, the property’s then-owner Jean Leprince died in a airplane crash close to the property. In 2013, a helicopter crash claimed the lives of the property’s former proprietor, James Grégoire, and Lam Kok, of Bolian group and who had simply agreed to buy the property. Lam Kok’s son and his interpreter, Peter Wang, additionally died within the tragic accident.
