Ng vows to restore French vineyard's glory
Source: AFP |
August 29, 2012, Wednesday
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A CHINESE businessman who sparked uproar in France when he bought a historic Burgundy vineyard pledged yesterday to respect local traditions and restore the chateau to its former glory.
Louis Ng has been targeted by the far-right National Front and disgruntled winegrowers since paying US$10 million for Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin earlier this year, over fears he will destroy the estate's 900-year-old heritage.
But in an attempt to allay such concerns, the 60-year-old Hong Kong-based casino executive said he planned to work with French architects and winegrowers to ensure the historic chateau remains a source of premium wine.
"It is our goal to bring this enchanted property to its full former glory," he said. "In time, I hope my new Burgundy neighbors will also come to appreciate my sincere passion for great wines as will be reflected in the positive improvements I hope to bring to Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin."
The estate includes two hectares of vineyards in one of Burgundy's top appellations, where growers follow strict rules in order to market their wines under legally protected names.
"It is my intention to use all the resources at my disposal to ensure that this land continues to produce world-class wines for wine lovers all around the world for generations to come," Ng said.
He said he had appointed French architect Christian Laporte to repair the chateau, which is listed on a registry of historic Burgundy monuments.
Along with certain unnamed "friends," he had signed a long-term lease with Burgundy winemaker Eric Rousseau, of Domaine Armand Rousseau, to look after the chateau's wine production.
"As a long-time wine lover over the past 30 years, I am thrilled to have this excellent opportunity to re-energize and reinvigorate this amazing piece of land," Ng said.
Ng described himself as a wine lover and an ambassador of French wines in Hong Kong and Macau, where he is the long-serving chief operating officer of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho's SJM Holdings.
Unlike its rival Bordeaux, Burgundy remains dominated by relatively small estates run by winemakers who, regardless of how prosperous they may have become in recent years, regard themselves as farmers first and foremost.
Properties generally get passed down from generation to generation, making foreign ownership relatively rare, again in contrast to Bordeaux where Chinese investors have established a strong presence.
Louis Ng has been targeted by the far-right National Front and disgruntled winegrowers since paying US$10 million for Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin earlier this year, over fears he will destroy the estate's 900-year-old heritage.
But in an attempt to allay such concerns, the 60-year-old Hong Kong-based casino executive said he planned to work with French architects and winegrowers to ensure the historic chateau remains a source of premium wine.
"It is our goal to bring this enchanted property to its full former glory," he said. "In time, I hope my new Burgundy neighbors will also come to appreciate my sincere passion for great wines as will be reflected in the positive improvements I hope to bring to Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin."
The estate includes two hectares of vineyards in one of Burgundy's top appellations, where growers follow strict rules in order to market their wines under legally protected names.
"It is my intention to use all the resources at my disposal to ensure that this land continues to produce world-class wines for wine lovers all around the world for generations to come," Ng said.
He said he had appointed French architect Christian Laporte to repair the chateau, which is listed on a registry of historic Burgundy monuments.
Along with certain unnamed "friends," he had signed a long-term lease with Burgundy winemaker Eric Rousseau, of Domaine Armand Rousseau, to look after the chateau's wine production.
"As a long-time wine lover over the past 30 years, I am thrilled to have this excellent opportunity to re-energize and reinvigorate this amazing piece of land," Ng said.
Ng described himself as a wine lover and an ambassador of French wines in Hong Kong and Macau, where he is the long-serving chief operating officer of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho's SJM Holdings.
Unlike its rival Bordeaux, Burgundy remains dominated by relatively small estates run by winemakers who, regardless of how prosperous they may have become in recent years, regard themselves as farmers first and foremost.
Properties generally get passed down from generation to generation, making foreign ownership relatively rare, again in contrast to Bordeaux where Chinese investors have established a strong presence.
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