The owners of Château Montrose have acquired the US winery RdV Vineyards, marking the first time a Bordeaux estate has invested in the state of Virginia. RdV Vineyards, named after founder Rutger de Vink, who will stay on as a consultant for the 2024 vintage, will be renamed Lost Mountain. The new name is described by the US winery as "an homage to the remarkable terroir of this ancient hill, once beloved by America's founding father George Washington."
Martin and Olivier Bouygues, who purchased Château Montrose in 2006, lead the industrial conglomerate Bouygues Group, which also includes France's third-largest telecommunications company. They also own Château Tronquoy-Lalande, Domaine Clos Rougeard, and hold a majority stake in the Burgundy estate Domaine Henri Rebourseau. All their wine activities will be consolidated under the new company Eutopia Estate. This will be managed by Martin's daughter Charlotte Bouygues and her mother Melissa Bouygues, the chairwoman of Château Montrose. The RdV team, led by winemaker Joshua Grainer, will collaborate with Montrose’s Pierre Graffeuille.
The winery, originally a 93-ha/230 ac sheep farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, now includes 18 ha/45 ac of vineyards planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The first vintage was released in 2008. The wines are primarily sold through a membership program. Additionally, a small amount of rosé and, for the first time this year, a white wine blend of Albariño and Semillon are produced.
