And finally… grapes of wrath

Rival dynasties, councillors, bankers and union officials have been dragged into a major row over the future of a prestigious Bordeaux vineyard.

The 32-strong Duffau-Lagarrosse family is selling Château Beauséjour in Saint-Émilion, which it has owned since 1847, The Times reports.

Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, heiress to the dynasty that owns Château Angélus, submitted a bid, as did Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse, who wants to keep the vineyard in the family.

However, the family rebuffed both bids and agreed to sell the vineyard for €68 million to Philippe Cuvelier, a furniture magnate who moved to Bordeaux in 2001.

The snub to long-standing Bordeaux families in favour of an outsider has led to a furious reaction and a local committee which approves agricultural land sales has tried to intervene.

The Cuveliers have denounced the “opaque process”, which will be concluded today, one way or the other.

Share icon
Share this article: