Press release

Paris, 17 november 2015

Trésor du Patrimoine is buying a majority stake from CA Grands Crus in Château de Rayne Vigneau maker of Sauternes ranked Premier Grand Cru Classé according to the Bordeaux classification of 1855

The Château de Rayne Vigneau estate consists of 84 contiguous hectares on a large hilltop overlooking the Sauternes region. This prestigious vineyard formerly belonged to Madame de Rayne (born Catherine de Pontac) and was acquired in 2004 by CA Grands Crus, which has invested heavily and pursued a policy of repositioning its wines at the upper end of the market. Today, Château de Rayne Vigneau's status has been restored and its Sauternes wines are reputed to be among the very best, with a style that combines intensity, freshness and length. The estate also produces other renowned wines that represent the many qualities of their terroir: Madame de Rayne (the estate's second wine), Clos l’Abeilley (Sauternes) and in the last few years Le Sec de Rayne Vigneau (a Bordeaux dry white wine).

Trésor du Patrimoine is buying a majority stake in Château de Rayne Vigneau and will provide resources, skills and distribution networks that complement the estate's own.
CA Grands Crus is retaining a minority stake and will continue to support the development of Château de Rayne Vigneau.

The partners are committed to ensuring that Château de Rayne Vigneau remains one of the elite Grands Crus Classés in the Sauternes region, and to maintaining good relations with the Bordeaux wine industry.

About Trésor du Patrimoine

For Trésor du Patrimoine, the acquisition will produce synergies with the various brands owned by its Vins et Saveurs de France subsidiary, which already operates in the wine market through Viniphile and Vignobles Lalande-Moreau (shipping 7 million bottles each year), and in gourmet food through Léon Fargues, Art Village and Traditions du Périgord, which leads France's foie gras distance-selling market (both mail-order and online).
The Trésor du Patrimoine group employs almost 500 people and has total revenue of almost €250 million. The acquisition will further strengthen its position in the wine industry and produce export opportunities, as well as furthering the group's strategy of building up each of its business areas.

About CA Grands Crus

The specific nature of the Sauternes market means that Château de Rayne Vigneau will have new growth opportunities as part of the Trésor du Patrimoine group.
CA Grands Crus is focusing on its strategic growth areas, stepping up its role as an investor and operator among the other high-profile wine estates owned by the Crédit Agricole group.
CA Grands Crus, which is owned by Crédit Agricole S.A. and the Aquitaine and Languedoc Regional Banks, owns prestigious vineyards in the Bordeaux region. Of these, the best known are Château Grand Puy Ducasse (Grand Cru Classé according to the 1855 classification, making wine under the Pauillac appellation), Château Meyney (one of the jewels of the Saint-Estèphe appellation) and Château La Tour de Mons (a Cru Bourgeois wine under the Margaux appellation).

Trésor du Patrimoine contact: Derek Remy Smith, Chairman – Tel: +33 (0)1 53 81 16 58

CA Grands Crus contact: Thierry Budin, CEO - Tel: +33 (0)5 56 59 00 40