News

Michel Laroche, one of the largest Chablis brands, is to merge with the Jeanjean group (Saint-Félix-de-Lodez). The draft merger agreement, signed on 22 September 2009, should come into effect by January 2010. The group is anticipating commercial and management synergies to optimize its development. Together, it will represent a total of 1,450 ha of vineyards, with names such as Ogier in Châteauneuf du Pape, Antoine Moueix in Bordeaux, Cazes en Roussillon, etc.

  
The Domaines developed in the new producer countries by Laroche (Chile and South Africa) are also included in the transaction. The new group will generate revenues of around 200 million euros, nearly half of which abroad. Michel Laroche will remain another two years in Chablis to train his successor. He will also be the second shareholder of this new group. (BIVB)

At a time when companies are affected by the global economic crisis, the creation of a new domaine is an unexpected piece of good news. Technical manager of Maison Alex Gambal wine (Beaune) since 1999, Fabrice Laronze has left the merchant business to take over a domaine in Auxey-Duresses (Côte de Beaune).

The new team harvested the 2009 vintage at this domaine, called Domaine des Terres de Velle, which includes 5 hectares of a few nice appellations: Auxey-Duresses, Monthelie 1er Cru les Duresses, Volnay and Volnay 1er Cru le Ronceret for the reds; Auxey-Duresses, Monthelie, Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet for the whites. They will then make the most of the winter to create their own packaging in line with the philosophy of the domaine. The first bottles will be sold from September 2010.

The Maison Corton-André (Aloxe-Corton) has concluded a partnership agreement with the Château de Savigny. This wine merchant has vinified wines from the Château since the 2009 vintage and will sell them (under the Château's name) from 2010.

 
The Domaine du Château de Savigny covers 18 hectares in regional appellations but also in Savigny, Beaune, Volnay, Pommard, Meursault, Auxey-Duresses etc. The full range also includes prestigious Premier Crus: Meursault Genevrières, Pommard Rugiens and Volnay Caillerets.

 
The vines will still be grown by the team from the Château, "following a technical plan defined together", says Benoit Goujon, at the head of the Maison. Corton-André already sells the brands Pierre André and Reine Pédauque with revenues of some 15 million euros (BIVB)

The whole wine universe is suffering. With the global financial crisis, the situation is clear. All over, end clients are paying more attention to prices: buying lower-quality ranges, favouring promotions or distributors' brands, reduced visits and lower spending in restaurants etc. The strong euro, specifically against the dollar, is an additional constraint for exports from producer countries in the euro zone.

  
Over the 12 months of the campaign (to end July 2009) exports from Burgundy fell by 24.5% by volume and by value, with 79.3 million bottles for 528 million euros. Compared to the average of the last five years, the fall represents 16% by volume and 12% by value. This situation is closely linked to the weight of the UK and USA (1 out of every 2 bottles of Burgundy exported is destined for one of these two markets), both of which are feeling the full impact of the crisis, and which accounts for ¾ of the decline in exports from Burgundy.

 
In Asia, despite an average fall in sales of Burgundy wine of 20-30% on these markets (excluding Japan), it would appear that exports could return to similar rates of growth when the economy recovers. The only mature wine market in Asia, Japan remains a favourable destination for Burgundy, with exports remaining relatively stable, despite the economic backdrop. Other traditional markets such as Belgium, Germany and even Switzerland have more or less maintained their volumes of Burgundy wine imports over the first seven months of 2009.

 
The regional AOCs, which are more affordable, have suffered to a lesser extent from the crisis, particularly white wines, whose revenues have fallen by only 9%.
Burgundy wine exports are fairly well sustained by Crémant de Bourgogne, which has seen steady growth for the last 5 years. With over 4.5 million bottles sold, this appellation has sold well on various markets. (BIVB).