Schenk Group purchases Italian winery

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 14 April, 2016

Leading wine supplier Buckingham Schenk's parent company has purchased a new winery in Tuscany.

Schenk Italia took ownership of Azienda Agricola Lunadoro last week, strengthening Schenk's presence in the Italian sector.

The Schenk Wine Group was founded in Switzerland in 1893 and is one of Europe's largest family-owned wine companies.

It has holdings in Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Benelux and the UK.

Azienda Agricola Lunadoro is a 30-hectare wine estate, ten minutes drive from Montepulciano.

The winery was completely renovated in 2006 to update its vinification facilities and traditional oak barrels for aging the wines.

Lunadoro has twelve hectares of vines and produces Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Speaking of the acquisition, Craig Durham, managing director of Buckingham Schenk, said: "This is a really outstanding development for the Schenk Wine Group and a superb acquisition which will further demonstrate the depth of our Italian offering to the UK market. Azienda Agricola Lunadoro makes some outstanding Montepulciano and we look forward to presenting the wines at the Definitive Italian Tasting in June."

In addition to sourcing its grapes from various suppliers, the group has recently invested in its own wineries.

This includes the acquisition of Henri Badoux (Aigle les Murailles) in Switzerland, Chateau d'Aigueville in the Rhone Valley, Prosecco winery Bacio della Luna and part ownership of the leading Chianti producer Castello di Querceto.

The group hopes this latest purchase of Lunadoro in Montepulciano will substantially increase the group's sourcing capabilities and give Schenk Italia, the group's Italian arm of the business direct access to more premium wines.

Printer friendly version