French wine group Boisset has bought rival company Société Gabriel Meffre, owner of La Chasse du Pape and the Fat Bastard brand.

Eric Brousse, who has an interest in Boisset subsidiary Varnier Finances, will take over as president of Meffre, which will continue to be run ‘with full autonomy’ from its existing base in Gigondas, according to a spokesperson for Boisset.

Brousse will run the company alongside Meffre’s CEO Bertrand Bonnet. Bonnet said he was ‘delighted’ by the deal, considering current economic conditions.

Gabriel Meffre is a specialist in wines from the Rhône Valley and the south of France and is best-known outside France for its successful mass-market brands, including La Chasse du Pape, Fat Bastard and Wild Pig.

Meffre-owned Loire Valley négociant and producer Donatien-Bahuaud will also become part of the Boisset stable.

Written by Richard Woodard

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Richard Woodard
Richard Woodard
Decanter Magazine, Wine & Spirits Writer

Richard Woodard is a freelance wine and spirits writer based in the UK. Aside from Decanter, he writes for several wine trade and media outlets including Imbibe, The Drinks Business, Harpers and Drinks International.

Since 2015 he has been the magazine editor of Scotchwhisky.com. He has formerly worked as a wine news reporter at Imbibe and a feature writer for Halycon Magazine.