The Chateau Delilah of Sonoma Valley of California

AXA Millésimes has expanded its footprint in California by purchasing Platt Vineyard on the western reaches of Sonoma Coast for an undisclosed sum. The French insurance giant’s wine division made its first foray into the Golden State when it bought Napa Valley winery Outpost back in 2018. Managing director Christian Seely has been on the hunt for a vineyard of similar quality to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay ever since. AXA Millésimes jumped at the opportunity to snap up the 111-hectare Plat ...

Fans of California wine and board games can now pour a glass and spend an afternoon playing the new Monopoly Napa Valley edition, released this week by Top Trumps USA, under licence from brand owner Hasbro. Top vineyard areas St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville are among the properties and places featured, alongside local landmarks and some wineries. Wine lovers who have visited the region may recognise Bounty Hunter, a merchant with a wine bar in downtown Napa. It occupies the high-value ‘Park ...

The deal includes 390ha of land in the Haut-Médoc appellation, of which 80ha is currently planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, along with the winery. It will allow TWE’s flagship brand, Penfolds, to increase its focus on creating blends featuring grapes from Bordeaux and Barossa. Earlier this year, chief winemaker Peter Gago unveiled Penfolds II, a Cabernet-Shiraz-Merlot blend created in partnership with Dourthe Bordeaux. The wine featured 71% grapes grown in Bordeaux and 29 ...