The lure of Provence: Château Bas sold to Bordeaux-based buyer
Château Bas has been sold to a holding company co-owned by Catherine Castéja, member of a major Bordeaux wine family, underlining how Provence has become a hotspot for high-profile winery deals.
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Château Bas, based near to Aix-en-Provence, has been sold to Ficbal, a holding company controlled by Catherine Castéja and her children, Charlotte Lafourcade Jumenbo, Hubert Castéja et Frédéric Castéja, for an undisclosed fee.
‘Château Bas is one of the jewels of Provence,’ said Ficbal in a press statement. It said Catherine Castéja had been looking at potential wine estates in the area for several years.
The deal emphasises how Provence, best known for its rosé wines, has become a desirable destination for winery buyers. Last year saw investment in the region by both LVMH’s Moët Hennessy and Chanel.
Château Bas covers 370 hectares, with 75ha of organically-farmed vines in the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence appellation and 10ha of olive groves. It makes rosé wine from Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Counoise grape varieties, and also produces red and white wines.
It will be owned and run separately from other Castéja family wine business interests, which include Bordeaux Châteaux Batailley and Trotte Vieille, as well as the Borie-Manoux merchant.
‘The acquisition of this property does not fall within the scope of the Castéja family’s properties and businesses,’ said Frédéric Castéja, CEO of Borie-Manoux and son of Catherine Castéja.
‘We have lots of ambition for the property,’ Ficbal said in a statement, remarking on the exceptional terroir.
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‘Our goal is to bring more precision to the wines,’ it said, adding that this would involve investment in both the vineyards and cellars.
Château Bas also welcomes thousands of visitors each year, including those who wish to view the 2,000-year-old Roman temple on its site.
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Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.
He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.
Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.
Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.