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Location |
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Active and enterprising wine-growers, the Latours settled in the village of Aloxe-Corton in 1768, buying up vineyards in this famous appellation and gradually establishing a large Domaine through inheritance. It was in this manner that the Latour family acquired parcels of "Clos de la Vigne au Saint", "Les Chaillots", "Grèves" and "Bressandes" which have now been in the family for more than 270 years.
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The Company Today |
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Expansion and Tradition
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After the Second World War, with the lowering of customs barriers, the higher standard of living and the increasing demand for fine wines, the wine-growing regions of France flourished. Maison Louis Latour rapidly developed as a strong brand name which acquired international recognition. Since then, the wines of Maison Louis Latour have appeared on the wine lists of memorable occasions, notably during the visits of foreign dignitaries to France.
In the constant search for modernisation and technical progress, the sixth Louis Latour has built modern installations on the outskirts of Beaune and sells his wines, with the famous Louis Latour logo, throughout the world. In addition, he has established subsidiaries in London and New York.
In the same spirit as the wine-makers of the New World, he has in the Ardèche, half way between Burgundy and the Côte d'Azur, planted Chardonnay and built winery installations allowing him to greatly increase the volume of sales of the famous grape variety.
At the same time, he has continued his role as buyer and shipper of a range of red and white wines from the great vineyards of Burgundy.
In his wineries at Beaune, Pommard and Aloxe-Corton, the traditional methods of ageing wines in oak casks are carefully observed.
Currently run by the sixth and seventh Louis Latours, this great family-run House on rue des Tonneliers will do its utmost to continue for as long as possible a story that began over 200 years ago.
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Key Dates of the
Company's History |
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1731 |
In 1731, the Latour family already owned vineyards on the Côte de Beaune, heart of the great Burgundian wine-producing region.
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1860 |
As early as 1860, Maison Louis Latour is selling its wines to the United States, Java, Buenos Aires, Bucharest, Brussels and London, providing Chablis, Montagny and Montrachet for the Tsar in St-Petersburg as well as shipping wines as far as Odessa and Moscow.
The wines were delivered in barrels until the end of the 19th century and then in bottles. Louis Latour even designed the labels which have remained unchanged ever since.
During this time of international expansion, the vineyards of France, and in particular those of Burgundy, were almost completely destroyed by the pernicious workings of the phylloxera insect, which originated in California and spread throughout France from 1860. Louis Latour was not disheartened: he joined in the fight against this plague, replanting the devastated vineyards and maintaining the traditional wine-making practices, but above all he remained confident about the future of Burgundian wine-making at a time when all seemed to be lost.
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1867 |
In 1867 Louis Latour added the title "négociant" to that of "propriétaire" and at the same time bought the premises at 18 rue des Tonneliers, the former site of a wine-shipper, where to this day the business has been based.
It was during this period that Louis Latour began breaking new ground in wine-ageing techniques. "Bottling wines much earlier than before to retain their freshness and elegance".
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1890 |
In 1890 the Latours acquired the jewel in the crown of their Domaine, the famous Château and fermenting cellar of Corton-Grancey.
Shipper and owner of some of the best vineyards, the third Louis Latour provided wine for Kings and Princes; the Thurn-und-Taxis family (for 160 years), the Court of Bavaria, the King of Wurtemberg, Ferdinand of Saxe-Cobourg the future King of Bulgaria, the Radziwill Princes etc. At the turn of the century, these clients were replaced by luxury hotels and great restaurants; Monte Carlo's Hôtel de Paris, Geneva's Le Beau-Rivage and the Paris Ritz.
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1900 |
In 1900 two parcels of Grand Cru vineyards were bought, those of Romanée Saint Vivant and Chambertin whose wines Maison Louis Latour presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.
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1931 |
Louis-Noël Latour observed that the grafting of Pinot Noir onto resistant American root-stocks produces wines of high quality.
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