Not everyone thought this was a good idea. The late Philippine de Rothschild of Château Mouton-Rothschild put the 1996 vintage of her Chilean wine project, Almaviva, on La Place in 1998. Until 24 years ago, La Place never sold a wine made outside Bordeaux. That kind of longevity requires the ability to adapt to new circumstances like wars and tariffs and pandemics, and the drive to open new markets, such as emerging ones in Asia, Africa and Latin America.Īndy Erickson and Annie Favia announced recently that their wines will be distributed on La Place. That's why it's been dealing in wine for 800 years. While the top wineries have upped their marketing game in recent decades, they leave sales and distribution to La Place. The négociants distribute the wine to buyers around the world, quickly and efficiently for the most part. Instead, a network of courtiers, or brokers, make deals between the château owners and the négociants as futures are released. The top châteaus of Bordeaux have never sold direct. It's a marketplace and distribution network made up of more than 300 négociants who sell to markets in more than 170 countries. 'The concentration of knowledge and experience that this enables is quite fascinating-the relationships it creates-and it contributes to making the world of fine wine 'one.' interesting, exciting, and thought-provoking.' Where is this place?ĭespite the name, La Place is not a specific spot.

'Australian wine is still underrepresented on the global fine wine stage, so being on La Place is not only a breakthrough for The Armagh, it is a breakthrough for fine Australian wine.'Ĭhadronnier believes it's part of a shrinking wine world. 'To be sold by some of the most well-respected négociants opens The Armagh up to more markets around the world and gives it credibility as a great wine,' said Sam Barry, commercial manager for his family's Aussie wine company. Or else it wouldn't be happening,' Mathieu Chadronnier, president of CVBG, a leading négociant, tells Wine Spectator. Those involved believe it's good for winemakers, consumers and La Place. And it puts Bordeaux at the global crossroads of fine wines. This development, which began cautiously a few years ago, has gained momentum. These include iconic wines like Bill Harlan's Promontory from Napa, Jackson Family's Vérité from Sonoma, Oregon's Beaux Frères, Champagne Philipponnat's Clos des Goisses, Will Berliner's Cloudburst and Jim Barry's The Armagh Shiraz from Australia, and super Tuscans like Colore from Bibi Graetz, Masseto and Solaia. Dozens of foreign wines-which is to say, wines not produced in Bordeaux-are now being sold by négociants who work through the Bordeaux marketplace during two annual sales campaigns, one held each September and another in March. Last week, both Favia in Napa Valley and Allegrini in Valpolicella announced that some of their wines would now be sold and distributed around the world not by local merchants but by the French négociants of La Place de Bordeaux.Ī remarkable transformation is underway on La Place. The announcements came from different wine regions on different continents, but the message was the same.

Cloudburst wine