Skalli Not For Sale, Not To Castel Or Anyone Else

Skalli is not for sale to Castel or to anyone else according to Emma J. Swain, CEO of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, the company’s flagship Napa Valley winery.

With Ms. Swain’s permission, her entire email is reproduced below:

“Your note on Skalli wines [News Fetch, June 28, reference added] brought a flurry of e-mails to my desk from across the country so I thought I should send you some clarification.

“We categorically deny the rumor suggesting a buyout of Skalli Wines by the Castel group, or that any discussions have taken place between the two companies on this matter.

“We are regularly approached by key players to take part in the consolidation of the sector, because our profile (renowned brands, a family of reference for wines from the south of France) is a well-adapted solution to this challenge.

“Faced with changes in the industry, the Skalli family is taking a close look at projects that can create added-value for the group as well as for our sector, varietal wines from south of France.

“Skalli wine brands are doing excellently as shown by our year to date results for 2011, particularly in China and the US where Fortant de France is continuing to see sales increases and where our Vallée du Rhône Caves Saint-Pierre and Skalli wines are gaining a foothold.”