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Pomerol estate sold to Asian pair for £6.8m
Château La Commanderie in Pomerol has been sold to a young Singaporean couple for £6.8m.
Château La Commanderie is the latest Bordeaux acquisition from an Asian investor
The six-hectare property was snapped up by Hong Kong-based Andrew and Melody Kuk who work in the construction business in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
The couple are in their early 30s, making them the youngest Asian owners of a Bordeaux estate, having bought the château through Mr Kuk’s Hong Kong company Grace Star.
Damien Mounet of winery sales specialist Square Viti, the agent responsible for the sale, told the Sud Ouest newspaper that the investment was a pleasure rather than a business purchase.
“They love Bordeaux, its wines and its history. They haven’t simply bought it to make money, but rather are doing it for their passion for wine,” he said.
Situated in the Pomerol AOC close to Château Cheval Blanc in neighbouring St Emilion, Château La Commanderie, produces 25,000 bottles a year.
The Kuk’s are not the first Asians to buy in Pomerol – Taiwan-born, Hong Kong-based Peter Kwok bought Château La Patache in 2012.
There are currently around 50 Bordeaux estates owned by Chinese, Hong Kong or Taiwanese investors, but this figure is expected to rise to 200 in the next five years.
Earlier this month, Château La Fleur Jonquet in Graves, Château Patarabet in Saint Emilion, Château l’Enclos in Sainte Foy la Grande and Château de Pic in Cadillac were all sold to Asian investors.
Of the 35 châteaux sold in Bordeaux in 2011, 21 went to Chinese buyers, while 23 of the 37 châteaux sold in the region last year were Chinese bought.
Capitalising on the trend, auction house Christie’s launched Vineyards by Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s first estate agency for would-be vineyard buyers, in Hong Kong this month.
Run by both wine experts and luxury property specialists, the agency will offer a consultancy service for clients looking to acquire vineyards in the world’s most sought after wine regions.