Maison Villevert acquires stake in Cognac Grosperrin

French spirits house Maison Villevert has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Cognac Grosperrin.

Founded in 1992, Grosperrin is the only Cognac house remaining in the town of Saintes. It is a well-respected player in the vintage Cognac market, known for its rare and small-batch casks.

Both companies will maintain their existing routes to market, with Grosperrin continuing to service its customers and Maison Villevert exploring opportunities through Grosperrin's international distribution network.

It is Maison Villevert's second recent major acquisition, following that of Celtic Whiskey Distillerie in 2020. The company says the deals demonstrate its desire to "invest with integrity" to "strengthen brands with incredible history and identity".

Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, founder and director of Maison Villevert, said: "Maison Villevert shares the same unique history and passion for Cognac's regional heritage and our partnership initiatives a real drive to grow our brown spirit repertoire by progressing further into the world of ultra-premium Cognacs.

"The synergies between our two houses are obvious and will allow us to develop our activities both in France and abroad and work together in the creation of an exclusive range of French spirits. I admire and respect the high standards of Guilhem Grosperrin and the work accomplished by his family over the past 30 years, and Guilhem will remain at the helm of the eponymous company."

Guilhem Grosperrin said: "Maison Villevert is reinventing the world of spirits while preserving the values of excellence, respect for the identity of heritage and know-how - values that we share and that we defend. It took me years to find the right partner, able to add value to our work, while giving us the opportunity to strengthen our sourcing.

"Cognac Grosperrin is now at a turning point in its history; old stocks are scarce and prices are soaring. Our inclusion in the Maison Villevert family allows us the possibility of consolidating and perpetuating over time this family project that I have been carrying for almost 20 years, and together we shall continue selecting and ageing exceptional Cognacs and offer examples of true reflections of their original terroirs and of unique familiar histories."

21 December 2021 - Bethany Whymark