Glenlofty Wines Pty Ltd has announced its acquisition of Blue Pyrenees Estate Pty Ltd to form the largest producer in the Pyrenees region, noted since the 1850’s for high quality sparkling and table wines.

Alongside Glenlofty and Blue Pyrenees Estate, the power of the region’s viticulture is demonstrated by premium brands like M. Chapoutier, Taltarni, Summerfield, and Dalwhinnie.

Glenlofty vineyard, established by Southcorp in 1994 to supply fruit for its high end Seppelts and Penfolds products, was acquired by the Richmond-Smith family in 2010, and has won numerous gold medals in international wine competitions since then. Glenlofty wines are vinified by the Blue Pyrenees winemaking team, winning international acclaim for Glenlofty’s Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Roussanne/Marsanne. Recent plantings of Nebbiolo and Viognier also show promise.

Blue Pyrenees Estate, established in 1963 by France’s Remy Martin group, has long anchored the region’s global offering of ultra-premium wines, both still and sparkling. The company’s 2000-tonne Avoca winery is complemented by several onsite accommodation options and a bistro cellar door facility.

Glenlofty’s acquisition of Blue Pyrenees is the next step in building a vineyard portfolio for the Richmond-Smith family.

The current generation, headed by 5th generation Roger Richmond-Smith, a technology developer in thermodynamics, is based at Burrumbeep, Willaura North, Victoria. Richmond-Smith’s siblings work in areas such as producing merino wool, and truffle growing.

“This new group mirrors us as a family”, Roger Richmond-Smith said. “Family-owned with a specific global vision for top quality wines, focused on our difficult but amazing Victorian Pyrenees terroir.”

“We’re very excited about getting back on the world map”, said Andrew Koerner, managing director of the new group. “The world is starting to understand that Victoria’s Pyrenees is a well-kept secret since its discovery by leaders of the French wine industry years ago. Our recent development work puts us in a great position to capitalise on new global appetites for Australian premium wines.”