Lafite Rothschild Expands Into Chablis by Buying William Fèvre
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Château Lafite Rothschild’s owner, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), has acquired William Fèvre, a leading Chablis (a Burgundy region producing Chardonnay-only white wine) estate, for about $99 million in 2024. The purchase gives Lafite—historically famed for Bordeaux red Grand Cru wines—a strong foothold in white wine through William Fèvre’s roughly 78 ha holdings, including about 15.2 ha of Grand Cru and 32 ha of Grand and Premier Cru plots. DBR chair Saskia de Rothschild said the Chablis terroir, especially its Kimmeridgian (Jurassic limestone) soils, matches Lafite’s focus on terroir purity. William Fèvre is noted for early adoption of organic and biodynamic practices and owns top Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, prized for power and aging potential. DBR plans packaging updates and will keep William Fèvre’s low-intervention winemaking approach while expanding Lafite’s white-wine reach.
