Chinese-backed firm buys Quixote Winery in Napa Valley
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A company believed to be backed by Chinese investors has bought Quixote Winery in the sought-after Stags Leap District of California's Napa Valley.
Quixote winery is known for its unusual design, built by architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Photo credit: Mariko / Quixote Winery
California-based Le Melange Vineyards & Winery has bought the 17-hectare Quixote estate in Napa from 81-year-old Carl Doumani.
While a fee has not been officially disclosed, the property has been up for sale for the past two years and its asking price was close to $30m.
The deal offers more evidence of rising Chinese interest in California.
Le Melange is believed to be funded by Gold Tower Group in China’s Jilin Province. California’s department of alcoholic beverage control named Le Melange’s president as Bert Zhang.
A sister company, Jinta Vineyards and Winery, last year bought Hannah Nicole Vineyards and Winery in California’s Contra Costa County.
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Aaron Pott, head winemaker at Quixote, told DecanterChina.com, ‘I am working with the new owners and I will continue to make the wine for Carl who has kept a small section of 0.8 hectares of vineyard on the property above the one he sold.
‘I am interested in taking Quixote in a new direction and looking forward to the new investment in the winery.’
Quixote produces Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Quixote label, from an 11-hectare vineyard lying between Stags’ Leap Winery and Shafer Vineyards.
Written by Chris Mercer
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.