France’s LVMH (think Christian Dior/Krug) Rolls into California Wine Country

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Chris Mercer of Decanter writes that LVMH has agreed to buy Colgin Cellars, a well known Napa winery. He writes:

LVMH said last night (21 November) that it had agreed to buy 60% of Colgin Cellars, which has around 10.5 hectares of vines.

It marks a significant move in Napa Valley for LVMH and its owner, Bernard Arnault, who regularly features at the top of France’s rich lists and already has names such as Krug, Clos des Lambrays and Château d’Yquem.

Colgin’s wines, such as Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic vineyard of that name near Calistoga, have developed something of a cult status among fine wine lovers since the estate was founded 25 years ago.

Others include Cariad and ‘IX Estate’ Syrah, and Colgin bottles are regular fixtures in wine lists in top restaurants.

Ann Colgin said, ‘After a social introduction to Mr. Arnault several months ago and discussions with the LVMH team, I realised that I could not find a better partner for Colgin Cellars to preserve our founding spirit and our exquisitely handcrafted red wines, into the future.’

LVMH indicated that little will change in the day-to-day running of Colgin, at least in the short-term.