Team C&J
In a move signaling their global ambitions, the Bouygues family, renowned owners of Bordeaux’s Château Montrose, have ventured beyond France’s borders with the acquisition of Virginia’s RdV Vineyards, to be rebranded as Lost Mountain. Led by winemaker Joshua Grainer, this marks a significant expansion for the family, who see promise in furthering RdV’s legacy of crafting exceptional wines in Virginia. Embracing founder Rutger de Vink’s vision, the Bouygues family aims to capitalize on the vineyard’s unique terroir and elevate its standing within the American wine landscape, marking a bold new chapter for both Château Montrose and RdV Vineyards.
Château Montrose’ owners acquire US wine estate RvD Vineyards
Château Montrose’s billionaire owners, the Bouygues family, are expanding their wine portfolio by acquiring Virginia’s RdV Vineyards. This marks the first venture outside France for the Bordeaux estate owners. RdV Vineyards will be renamed Lost Mountain and will continue to be led by winemaker Joshua Grainer. The Bouygues family believe in the potential of the winery and aim to build upon the founder’s vision of creating exceptional wines in Virginia. They are excited for this new chapter and the opportunity to further develop the estate.
Marchesi Antinori will take full ownership of Col Solare
Marchesi Antinori, an esteemed Italian family-owned wine producer, will fully acquire Col Solare, a winery established in collaboration with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates nearly 30 years ago. Piero Antinori expressed excitement about the unique terroir of Red Mountain AVA and their ongoing efforts to craft high-quality Washington red wines, alongside their recent acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley. Col Solare, meaning ‘shining hill’, was founded to blend Italian and Washington’s winemaking excellence, focusing on luxury Cabernet Sauvignon. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates introduced international winemakers to Washington through this partnership, and both companies are proud of Col Solare’s elite status. Ste. Michelle’s CEO, Shawn Conway, praised the Antinori family’s commitment to continue elevating the winery and the Washington wine region.
This winemaking power couple just bought a remarkable California vineyard
Mikey and Gina Giugni, a young independent winemaking couple, who own Scar of the Sea Wines and Lady of the Sunshine, have acquired Bassi Vineyard in California’s Central Coast from Mike Sinor. The vineyard, near the Pacific Ocean in San Luis Obispo County, is known for its unique coastal location, rocky sandstone soil, and erratic hills, resulting in low yields and distinctive wines with a sea salt note. The Giugnis plan to farm the vineyard organically and maintain its biodynamic practices. They will replant some areas with new grape varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Aligote, and Sicilian reds. This is their first vineyard purchase, fulfilling a long-held dream, with the support of Sinor, who will continue to buy Bassi grapes for the next 20 years.
Off Premise Wine Sales Value Declines
Sales of domestic wine are down slightly by volume and value compared to last year. This is driven by a decline in cheaper wines, with sparkling wine being hit the hardest. Interestingly, there’s a shift in consumer spending towards more expensive wines. Bottles priced $15 and above are all experiencing growth, suggesting that even though people are buying less wine overall, they might be spending more per bottle on the wines they choose.
The King of Sonoma Pinot Noir Has Created Another Outstanding Winery
Dan Kosta, founder of acclaimed Pinot Noir winery Kosta Browne, has launched a new project called Convene. After leaving Kosta Browne, Kosta didn’t retire but rather started fresh with Convene. Convene focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, similar to Kosta Browne. The project has already received positive reviews with its first releases scoring 97 and 95 points. Winemaker Shane Finley crafts the wines while Kosta focuses on brand management and public appearances. Convene offers a tasting room at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg. Their Pinot Noirs from Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley showcase distinct flavor profiles and the upcoming Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir will complete their portfolio for now. Kosta believes these wines will age well for up to 10 years.
Millennials are poised to enter their prime collecting years, but will their choices align with the wines favored by Boomers? The wine market is steeped in a culture requiring years of development, leading from cheap beers and spirits to the refined enjoyment of high-end wines. While the lower market is suffering due to shifting generational preferences, the premium and collector segments are holding firm, albeit cautiously. Young collectors often climb the ladder through mentorship and exposure from older colleagues, but escalating restaurant wine prices and a generational penchant for novelty could disrupt this flow. Despite financial and cultural shifts, established classics like Bordeaux and Burgundy remain stalwarts among collectors. Experts anticipate that even as Millennials seek out esoteric and under-the-radar wines, the collector market will continue to thrive on the stories and histories that hallmark coveted labels. As always, the advice remains: buy what you love to ensure enjoyment even if market values fluctuate.
Sonoma County Leads DTC Shipment Volume
In May, the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) wine shipment market saw declines, with value dropping 12% to $295 million and volume falling 16% to 567,536 cases, despite the average bottle price rising 4% to $43.32.
Sonoma County led in DTC shipments over the past 12 months, sending nearly 2 million cases worth $814 million, though value decreased by 2% and volume by 11% compared to the previous year. The average bottle price from Sonoma was $33.95, below the national average of $49.45.
Sonoma’s shipments are more affordable, with wines priced under $20 making up 42% of the volume. In terms of value, the $40-$49.99 and $60-$79.99 tiers were prominent, comprising 32% of shipments. Pinot Noir led in DTC volume (19%) and value (28%), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. This data is from the Wine Analytics Report.
Finally, wines from this underdog California region are coming to Napa
Fess Parker Winery, known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County, is opening a tasting room in Napa Valley. This brings much-needed diversity to Napa’s downtown area dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery hopes to raise awareness for Santa Barbara wines, a region overshadowed by Napa and Sonoma despite its acclaimed offerings. While Fess Parker is primarily focused on showcasing their Santa Barbara wines, they will also offer their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon label, Addendum. The tasting room will have a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the winery’s history.
Archaeologists discovered the oldest wine ever found in liquid form in an untouched Roman tomb in Spain. The 2,000-year-old wine was found in an urn along with cremated remains and is believed to be a local, sherry-like white wine. This discovery surpasses the previous record holder, the Speyer wine bottle found in Germany in 1867. Researchers were able to identify the wine through chemical analysis and local historical context. While the wine is drinkable, scientists are hesitant to try it due to its age and contact with human remains.
All things wine, and food you could ever need or want — straight to your email!
