Chateau Lafite Heads To China
China has been buying into the Bordeaux region of France for a while but the opposite move is also taking place. Decanter reports that Bordeaux first growth Chateau Lafite is working on a vineyard in China. Chateau Lafite has a very high reputation on China and has partnered with CITIC, China's largest state-owned investment company on over 60 acres of vines on the peninsula of Penglai in Shandong province. The Penglai peninsula is on its easternmost tip of the province and wine companies there already produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Some say the region is China's Bordeaux. A website for the region promotes the fact that it is located at north latitude 37º along with Bordeaux and Napa Valley.Interest in wine in China has risen dramatically over the past few years and with its large population and spending power that interest is only expected to increase. The presence of Domaines Barons de Rothschild, Chateau Lafite's parent company, in Penglai adds tremendous clout to the wine growing region and will garner worldwide interest similar to what happened when Domaines Barons de Rothschild made its first forays into South American vineyards.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dick Van Gelder Mar 30th 2009 6:39AM
Interesting news from Decanter, but it is very strange that the official website from Chateau Lafite "http://www.lafite.com/noflash.html" does not mention this news.
I visited the duplicate Chateau Lafite castle in Penglai and it's beautiful surroundings and investigating the article at the Chinese website of your link "http://www.penglai-china.com/5Property_2.html", it does however confirm the existance of this luxerious estate but also does not mention any cooperation or investment.