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France's largest wine producer Castel is significantly expanding its sparkling wine business. In Beychac-et-Cailleau, a good 25 kilometers from the company's headquarters in Blanquefort near Bordeaux, Castel subsidiary Oenoalliance put a new production center for Crémant de Bordeaux into operation. According to the company, the investment volume amounts to 1.5 million euros.
The cellar of the new production center is specially designed for Crémant base wines. Using gyropallets - computer-controlled, machine-operated vibrating racks - the sparkling wine is produced using the traditional bottle fermentation method and matures for 18 months instead of the prescribed twelve months in the bottle. The four bottling lines have a total capacity of 2,000 to 14,000 bottles per hour. Up to 40 million bottles can be produced annually.
In 2017, Castel plans to launch 200,000 bottles of Crémant de Bordeaux under the Malesan and Maison Castel brands; in 2019, the production volume is expected to reach one million bottles. "This project stems from the Castel family's desire to become strategically involved in the sparkling wine market at a time when the success of this segment is becoming apparent," explained Oenoalliance director Lionel Chol at the opening. "Direct investment in the market for Crémant de Bordeaux is a first." Initially, Castel intends to develop the sparkling wine segment in the supermarket and hypermarket sector.