Château d'Esclans is a rosé wine producer in the Côtes de Provence AOC in Provence, France. It is majority owned by LVMH.[1]
The château is credited with reviving interest in rosé wine.[2] It is best known for producing the Whispering Angel rosé wine, which is a high demanded French rosé in the US.[3]
Château d'Esclans was formerly a residence of the Counts of Provence. It was later owned by Jacques Auxile Verrion, War Commissioner of Louis XV, who became Count of Esclans under Charles X.[4]
Sacha Lichine purchased Château d'Esclans in 2005, from a Swedish pension fund. Over ten years, he increased production from 135,000 bottles per year to 5 million bottles per year.[5] Lichine targeted the North American market, transforming rosé wine as a lifestyle accessory. He brought in Patrick Léon as winemaker, who had retired from Mouton Rothschild.[6]
In 2019, LVMH acquired 55% of Château d'Esclans: 50% from Lichine's business partner Hervé Vinciguerra, and 5% from Lichine, with Lichine retaining 45% of the business.[7] [8] The value of the deal was not disclosed but was estimated at €140 million.[9]
The main wine of the estate is "Whispering Angel". The lesser wines are "The Pale" and "The Beach". "Rock Angel" is more expensive.[6] These wines are made with grapes bought in from other estates.[10] More expensive wines are made with grapes only from the estate: "Château d'Esclans", "Les Clans" and "Garrus". "Garrus" is one of the world's most expensive rosés,[11] [12] made from almost 100-year-old vines and fermented in French oak barrels.