Il comunicato stampa è essenziale: dice che EPI (marchio del lusso francese di proprietà della famiglia Descours, che possiede Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck and Chateau La Verrerie) ha siglato "a strategic and capitalistic partnership with Biondi-Santi”.

Quindi la storica cantina di Montalcino ha  fatto entrare, con quote ancora da conoscere, il grosso gruppo francese nell’azienda.

La domanda che ci poniamo tutti adesso è se effettivamente Biondi Santi sia stata ceduta in blocco oppure solo in parte. Pare che Jacopo Biondi Santi rimanga nella duplice veste di presidente-enologo della cantina, ma anche qui il futuro ci dirà di più.

Comunque la lunghissima telenovela sulla presunta vendita di Biondi Santi sembra sia giunta ad una svolta precisa.

Di seguito troverete il comunicato stampa dell’accordo.

The Descours family enters a strategic and capitalistic alliance with the Biondi Santi family.

Paris, France, December 18, 2016. EPI, an independent French family group owned by the Descours family, has signed a strategic and capitalistic partnership with Biondi-Santi, one of the most prestigious Italian wine estates, whose origins go back to the 16th century.

The Biondi-Santi estate is recognized worldwide as the inventor of the ‘Brunello di Montalcino’. Biondi-Santi wines are produced on the best plots of the vineyards of Montalcino in Tuscany and have always been the reference of this appellation since 1865. Jacopo Biondi Santi, born from the 6th generation of the founding family, runs the family estate, which is recognized for its wines, among the most sought after. Wine Spectator ranked the Biondi-Santi Riserva 1955 among the 12 best wines of the twentieth century; The 2010 Riserva is one of the only two wines in the world to have been rated 100 in 2016 by Wine Enthusiast.

The agreement concluded on December 16, 2016 between EPI and Biondi-Santi follows the exclusive negotiations that began in June 2016 between the two families. It confirms EPI’s strategy aiming at developing its Wines & Spirits business, already composed of the champagne Houses Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck and the Château La Verrerie vineyard located in the Rhone Valley.

Christopher Descours, President of the EPI Group: ‘I am delighted with this partnership between EPI, the Biondi-Santi estate and the Biondi Santi family, whose know-how, pioneering spirit and excellence echo the values of the brands part of the EPI group. Building on these strengths and a shared vision for the future, we will continue to develop the Biondi-Santi wines, drawing on the experience and expertise of Jacopo Biondi Santi who will continue to preside Biondi-Santi. This is a perfect example of EPI’s ambition to develop brands with the highest level of excellence globally’.

Jacopo Biondi Santi, President and oenologist of the estate: ‘This alliance with the Descours family is the occasion for us to back our activity to a group that shares our values: transmission of know-how, excellence in perpetuating our profession and creativity in the production of our wines. EPI will give us the necessary support for the development of our business and thus will help strengthening the influence of our wines and therefore of Brunello internationally’.

EPI was advised by Mediobanca, Bredin Prat and Studio legale Chiomenti. Jacopo Biondi Santi was advised by Crédit Agricole CIB, DLA Piper Milan, and Giovanni Gatteschi.