CHILE/UK: San Pedro, Les Grands Chais join forces

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 7 February 2007

Chilean wine group Viña San Pedro has named Les Grands Chais de France as its distributor for the UK market.

The deal, announced today (7 February), comes just days after San Pedro parted company with former UK distributor Buckingham Vintners.

Les Grands Chais' will handle San Pedro's Chilean wine brands 35º South and Castillo de Molina and its Argentinian label, Finca La Celia in the UK.

San Pedro export director Stuart Downes said: "We've noted the rapid development of Les Grands Chais de France in the UK market. Working together it will not be long until 35º South joins J.P. Chenet as one of the UK's leading wine brands."

J.P. Chenet is Les Grands Chais' flagship brand in the UK, selling around 5m cases a year, Downes told just-drinks. "This (deal) allows us to move forward and provide greater flexibility for our customers in the UK," he continued.

Tim North, UK director at Les Grands Chais, praised San Pedro's "determination" to succeed in the UK and said the two companies would work to create "a new force for wines from South America."

Sectors: Wine

Companies: San Pedro, Les Grands Chais de France