Domaine Clarence Dillon is a wine company run by a family that owns estates such as
Château Haut-Brion
Château Haut-Brion () is a French wine, rated a ''Premier Grand Cru Classé'' ( First Great Growth), produced in Pessac just outside the city of Bordeaux. It differs from the other wines on the list in its geographic location in the north of ...
(a 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé), Château La Mission Haut-Brion (Grand Cru Classé de Graves), Château Quintus (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru) and Clarendelle. Since 2015, Domaine Clarence Dillon has also had a two-star gourmet restaurant ''Le Clarence'' and ''La Cave du Château', a wine shop, both in Paris.
History
The company was founded on June 1, 1935, and named after its owner, the American financier
Clarence Dillon
Clarence Dillon (September 27, 1882 – April 14, 1979) was an American financier, and namesake of Dillon, Read & Co., an investment bank. In 1957, Fortune Magazine listed Dillon as one of the richest men in the United States, with a fortune then ...
, who bought Château Haut-Brion in 1935.
From 1935 to 1975, Seymour Weller, nephew of Clarence Dillon, managed the company.
From 1975 through 2008,
Joan Dillon,
Duchesse de Mouchy, served as president of Domaine Clarence Dillon. Her husband, Philippe, Duc de Mouchy, was General Manager. Under their management, the company bought Château La Mission Haut-Brion,
Château Laville Haut-Brion
Château Laville Haut-Brion was a Bordeaux dry white wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, which was ranked among the ''Crus Classés'' in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953. The estate is located in close vicinity of the city of Borde ...
and
Château La Tour Haut-Brion
Château La Tour Haut-Brion was a Bordeaux wine estate from the Pessac-Léognan appellation within Graves, and was ranked as a ''Cru Classé'' for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. It was located in close vicinity of ...
in 1983.
In 1993,
Prince Robert of Luxembourg, son of the Duchesse de Mouchy and great-grandson of Clarence Dillon, joined the Board of Directors. In 2002, he became General Manager. Since 2008, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, her son by her marriage to
Prince Charles of Luxembourg, is President of Domaine Clarence Dillon.
The Board of Directors of Domaine Clarence Dillon includes only descendants of Clarence Dillon, through his son
C. Douglas Dillon
Clarence Douglas Dillon (born Clarence Douglass Dillon; August 21, 1909January 10, 2003) was an American diplomat and politician, who served as U.S. Ambassador to France (1953–1957) and as the 57th Secretary of the Treasury (1961–1965). He w ...
, who had served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1961 to 1965, or his daughter Dorothy Dillon-Eweson.
In 2010, Domaine Clarence Dillon and the Dillon family became founding sponsors of La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. This cultural center celebrating the global wine culture opened its stores in 2016, receiving close to half a million visitors annually. Prince Robert of Luxembourg is a member of the Board of Directors of La Cité du Vin Foundation and President of its Cultural Committee.
On June 24, 2011, Domaine Clarence Dillon announced the acquisition of Château Tertre Daugay, former First Growth of Saint-Emilion,
now renamed
Château Quintus.
In 2013, Château Quintus itself acquired the neighbouring property, Château L’Arrosée.
Recent activities
On November 17, 2015, Domaine Clarence Dillon's scope of activities broadened with the creation of two new companies, both based in its headquarters, a mansion house located in the heart of Paris Golden Triangle. This residence allows visitors to discover the atmosphere of Château Haut-Brion while also discovering a gourmet cuisine awarded 2 Michelin stars, “Le Clarence”. Housed in the same building is “La Cave du Château”, a fine wine shop featuring a wide selection of wines sourced exclusively from the greatest terroirs of France. In November 2017 it created a website celebrating large format bottles: Big French Bottle.
In October 2018, Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Domaine Clarence Dillon joined
Primum Familiae Vini
Primum Familiae Vini (often abbreviated PFV, Latin: "First Families of Wine") is an association of family-owned wineries with a membership limited to twelve families.
History
The association was established in 1993 by Miguel Torres and Robert ...
, an international association of 12 of the world's finest wine producing families.
References
External links
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Château Haut-BrionChâteau Quintus
{{coord missing, France
Wineries of France