The Laroche family has been producing Chablis since 1850. Michel Laroche , who represents the 5th generation of this wiemaking family, joined the company in 1967. Convinced of the Appellation’s potential fo high quality wines, Laroche embarked on a period of expansion taking the holding from 6 hectares in 1967 to over 100 hectares today.

Michel Laroche had been closely following the evolution of the South of France, since the 1980s. In 1995, be bought Mas la Chevalière, just outside Béziers and planted 45 hectares of prime vineyards. The diversity of soil, climate and grape varieties in this region allow him to produce a wide selection of wines, ranging from refreshing aperitif wines to rich, well-structured reds that can be aged fo 10 years more.

In 2001, The entrepreuneurial spirit of Michel Laroche led him to look behond his native France and to start exploring the challenge of the New World. Fascinated by the unique climatic conditions , the vast choice of grape varieties and the cultural ancestry of viticulture, Laroche finally decided to invest in Chile, Vina Punto Alto.

After having developed his eponymous domaine in Chablis, followed by his investments in the South of France in 1995 and in Chile in 2001, Michel Laroche announced in 2006 the acquisition of L’Avenir wine Estate, 55 hectares of prime vineyards located just outside Stellenbosh. For people who know him, Michel Laroche ‘s decision to develop outside the Old World will have come as no surprise. As the premium category rapidly grows within the New World, Laroche wanted his part of the action. This latest acquisition in the heart of South Africa’s winelands is a logical evolution of his strategy and complements the existing range of wines.