The Institute of Masters of Wine announces Maison Louis Latour as a Supporter
Maison Louis Latour has become a Supporter of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW). Speaking on what the announcement means to the IMW, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Chairman, said: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome Louis Latour to the IMW as Supporters. Even more so when the Chairman of Louis Latour Agencies is John Clevely MW who is celebrating his diamond anniversary as an MW next year. We look forward to building an ever closer relationship between the MW community with Maison Louis Latour, a historic family business.”
The Latour family are long established in Burgundy’s wine trade and Maison Louis Latour will be joining the existing IMW family of Supporters in the region, including Maison Louis Jadot, William Fèvre and Domaine de l’Arlot (part of AXA Millésimes).
John Clevely MW and Chairman of Louis Latour Agencies (pictured with Sarah Jane Evans MW), said: “There are so many similarities between the Institute and Louis Latour that I’m delighted we’ve announced this new partnership. Both are strongly international – nowadays wherever you go in the world it seems you can meet an MW, and find a Louis Latour wine. And both are families which understand and promote the idea of excellence in all they do.”
Beginning as vine growers in the village of Aloxe-Corton in the 1760s, the family established today’s business, Maison Louis Latour, in 1797. Since then and for 11 generations, the company has been in family ownership and is now led by Louis-Fabrice Latour, the 7th Louis to lead the House.
Supported by head winemaker Jean Charles Thomas and domaine director Boris Champy, Maison Louis Latour create wines from their own 50-hectare domaine in the Côte d’Or and from grapes and wines purchased through the negociant arm of their business. They also produce all their own barrels at their small traditional cooperage in Savigny-Lès-Beaune.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Sarah Kirkpatrick
Marketing and Communications Manager
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)207 383 9131
skirkpatrick@mastersofwine.org
Notes to Editors:
About the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW)
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is a membership organisation with an exceptional international reputation. For almost 70 years, its members – the Masters of Wine (MWs) – have been at the forefront of leadership and expertise in the world of wine. The IMW’s mission is to promote excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. MWs prove their comprehensive understanding of wine by passing the MW examination, recognised worldwide for its rigour and exacting standards. In addition to passing the examination, members must sign the code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. This requires them to act with honesty and integrity, and use every opportunity to share their knowledge of wine with others. Today, there are 341 Masters of Wine working in 25 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, journalists, shippers, consultants, academics, educators and more.
About Maison Louis Latour
Maison Louis Latour was founded in 1797 and is the oldest wine house in Burgundy still in original family ownership. Today the house is led by Louis-Fabrice Latour who represents the 11th generation of the family and 7th Louis to lead the House. Maison Louis Latour encompasses a 50 hectare domaine (including Burgundy’s largest holding of Grand Cru vineyards) and a thriving negociant business. The family has always drawn on its experience, built up over more than 220 years, and used this insight and long term view to innovate. Early examples include the first plantings of Chardonnay in Corton-Charlemagne following Phylloxera, development of international markets in the 1860s and the championing the wines from Mâcon-Lugny since 1956. More recent innovations include the adoption of industry leading sustainable viticultural practices since the 1990s, the purchase of Chablis producer Simonnet-Febvre in 2003 and then that of Beaujolais producer Henry Fessy in 2008.
Louis Latour Agencies is the UK subsidiary of Maison Louis Latour. Founded in 1990, the company are proud to act as agents for Louis Latour, Simonnet-Febvre and Henry Fessy and a selection of other family owned wine producers from around the world. These include Champagne Gosset and Cognac Frapin, Vidal-Fleury (Rhône), Michel Redde et Fils (Pouilly-Fumé), Morgenhof Estate (Stellenbosch), McHenry Hohnen (Margaret River), Wakefield Wines (Clare Valley), Seresin Estate and MOMO (Marlborough) and Viu Manent (Colchagua Valley).