CHAPOUTIER GET INTO THE ROSÉ GAME

MAISON MICHEL CHAPOUTIER, Tain-l’Hermitage’s producer in Rhône, has bought Château des Ferrages in Provence. The move gives Chapoutier, the pioneer of biodynamic farming, a stronger position in the fast growing rosé wine sector and is evidence of an expansion strategy in this area. Château des Ferrages is located in Pourcieux, between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximinin the lowland of Sainte-Victoire – covering 28 hectares and produces both Côtes-de-Provence and Côtes-de-Provence Saint-Victoire wines. Current production is 14OO hectolitres per year, the equivalent to around 187,OOO bottles, with 9O% dedicated to rosé. Maison Chapoutier will retain the Château des Ferrages brand, and will not include its umbrella logo on bottle labels. In all likelihood, the estate will not operate using biodynamic farming methods, at least in the short term. Global rosé wine sales are around 2.6 billion bottles annually, according to the most recently released figures from research group IWSR and trade show Vinexpo.