Jeanjean and Michel Laroche merge

French wine producers Jeanjean and Michel Laroche have formally merged to create AdVini – the country’s largest quality wine group.

The €52m union of the two companies – effectively the takeover of Laroche by Jeanjean – was announced last September, but was only recently approved by financial authorities in France.

The new group, the third largest still wine producer in France, owns 1,450ha of vineyards across the south of France and Chablis, as well as in the New World. Its annual turnover is about €190m.

Among its vineyards are Ogier and Le Clos de l’Oratoire in Châteauneuf-du-Pape; Gassier in Provence; Antoine Moueix in St-Emilion; and Laroche in Chablis, Chile, South Africa and the Languedoc.

AdVini chairman Antoine Leccia said, ‘This merger follows the logic of an increasing level of concentration within the French wine sector. It represents a vital step in the light of the challenges facing the wine industry worldwide.’

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Written by Richard Woodard

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.