The Roulleau family takes over the Domaine de La Bégude in Bandol
Famille Roulleau, Famille Tari et Laurent Fortin © Mathieu Garçon
Christian Roulleau, founder of SAMSIC (a leading company in business services), owner of Château Dauzac (Grand Cru Classé in Margaux) for the past three years, has just announced the acquisition of the famous Domaine de La Bégude in Bandol. This dynamic entrepreneur from Rennes, never short of projects, also acquired last year 51% of Maison Montagnac, a Bordeaux wine merchant offering a wide range of wines.
A handover from the Tari family to the Roulleau family
At the head of Domaine de La Bégude for 25 years, the Tari family, represented by Guillaume and Soledad Tari, has chosen the Roulleau family for the project to sell the property.
The Domaine de La Bégude covers 300 hectares of which 40 hectares are planted. The objective is to increase the vineyard to 60 hectares within a few years.
Bastide-du-XIIIème-siécle-photo-Sami-Sarkis
The two families with the same dynamism but also with a pioneering spirit share common values such as respect for nature and biodiversity, the desire for innovation, the affection for hospitality as well as a true desire to preserve the terroir.
It is a place of natural agroforestry that is home to the international conservatory of mourvèdre. It also hosts certain protected species such as Bonelli’s eagle. This is reminiscent of the approach implemented at Dauzac for several years to protect biodiversity, organic farming, the use of locally produced bio-sourced herbal tea, etc. The mixed farming model in place at La Bégude (olive trees, almond trees, etc.) will be maintained and reinforced.
For the anecdote, the exceptional vine collection of +150 Mourvèdre varieties, the largest in the world, will be preserved and enriched.
This new acquisition is the logical continuation of the Roulleau family’s investment strategy and the refocusing of its activities in the wine sector.
Gamme © Mathieu-Garçon
The talented Laurent Fortin, currently the General Manager of Château Dauzac, will naturally take over the management of Domaine de La Bégude accompanied by a dedicated team to continue to raise the property as a great reference in Bandol with Vincent Bouyer as Technical Director and Robert Oustric as Commercial Director. Guillaume Tari will remain in support to accompany a natural handover.
“The Roulleau family fell in love with this exceptional site, these exceptional terroirs set in the garrigue and these wines with strong personality. We are following in the footsteps of the Tari family to make La Bégude shine at the top of the Bandol appellation. The challenge is exciting, in the continuity of Château Dauzac, to build a family group of inspired vineyards.” (Laurent Fortin)