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Bouchard Père & Fils ‘definitely not for sale’
The chairman of Maisons & Domaines Henriot, Gilles de Larouzière, came to London last week to reassure the UK wine press that no part of the group is for sale following the death of Joseph Henriot in May last year.
Gilles de Larouzière is Joseph Henriot’s nephew
At a dinner on Thursday 3 November at the Lanesborough Hotel, Gilles de Larouzière, who is Joseph Henriot’s nephew, told the drinks business that neither the company nor any of its assets were on the market, despite the untimely death of his uncle, and subsequent rumours that parts of the company may be for sale: it owns Champagne Henriot, Bouchard Père & Fils in Burgundy, William Fèvre in Chablis, Villa Ponciago in Beaujolais, and Lejay Cassis.
“We are here [in the UK] because we value the UK market in terms of prestige, it is probably one of the most savvy markets in the world, and to say that we are here to stay – the family is still very much engaged in the group, whatever the rumours.”
Continuing, he told db that it had been suggested in the French wine press that famous Burgundy grower and négociant Bouchard Père & Fils was for sale following the death of Joseph, the former president of the group. However, he was quick to quash this assertion.
“There have been rumours that Bouchard Père & Fils was for sale, but it is definitely, definitely not for sale,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing attendees of the dinner, and having expressed his deep respect for the expansion of the group under the chairmanship of his uncle, he said, “The family is intending to carry on the work of Joseph Henriot for numerous generations.”
He also said that there was “no place for complacency” and commented that in the future, the group would be “more active in communication”.
Gilles explained that he had been asked to head up the group by members of the Henriot family, including Joseph Henriot shortly before he died, prompting Gilles to leave a successful career outside the wine industry – he was a business strategy consultant and director at Capgemini in Paris.
Significantly, neither of Joseph Henriot’s sons – Stanislas and Thomas – currently work within the group, although Thomas was president of Champagne Henriot until last year, and had been involved in the group since 2008.
Maisons & Domaines Henriot has a turnover of more than €100 million and employs over 350 people.
Gilles had been on the board of the group since 2011, having replaced his mother who died in that year.
He told db that he had “worked closely” with Joseph Henriot in the few weeks before he died, and said that it was a “great honour” to lead the group.
On 3 September in Hong Kong Christie’s auctioned an impressive collection of rare old vintages of Bouchard Père & Fils wines directly from the producer’s cellar – and you can read more about the lots that featured in the auction here.
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