Is owning a prime time Burgundy vineyard like owning a sports franchise?

WINE TALK
1

I was having a discussion with a very prominent Burgundy personality today, who told me that the 7 hectares of Clos des Lambrays netted $107 million euros. So that’s 3,500 cases annually (that you still have to sell…) for $107 million euros? The comment that struck me as REALLY interesting is that it would take 50 years to recover that investment.

So, do you buy the Clippers, or La Tache? champagne.gif

This person also happened to mention the costs associated with farming too. YIKES.
A hail vintage costs 60% more than a “normal year”.

2

If you are going to buy either one, you probably don’t care about the economics. That being said, I would rather own a winery. More respect for the grapes than for (or from I would expect) the players.

3

To answer the original question, no. There is no need to deal with athletes making poor decisions.

4

Rather have a sports team.

5

I’d rather own a sports team and drink the best Burgundy in the world from a lush suite while swimming in all the money that couldn’t possibly spend in 10 lifetimes.

And for what it’s worth, I’d let my GM and Coach deal with all the egos.

6

As the owner of a small vineyard in Oregon (nb: thread drift), there are days I’d rather be a waterboy for the Charlestown Chiefs.

But I digress.

I agree with Charlie: I’ll take the Professional Sports team, hopefully bank some kwan, and buy kick-ass burgundy. Although I like Wilf Jaeger’s approach: buy a few rows of RSV and let Jeremy Seysses make your wine…


Cheers,

Doug

7

Bet Donald Sterling wishes he owned la Tache

8

He now has an extra $2 billion, he could go buy drc [snort.gif]

9

If you’re rich enough to own a sports team, there’s no issue with buying a vineyard (or vineyards) on the side. That’s how I’d do it.

10

In addition to owning Screagle, Enos Kroenke owns the St. Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and a majority interest in the mighty Arsenal.

So yeah, he’s doing ok for himself.

11

but does he have clos de lambrays? [snort.gif] [snort.gif]

12

Sadly no, but he also owns Jonata. And anyway, last I checked Clos de Lambrays didn’t make a Sauvignon Blanc that goes for a WS low of nearly $3500.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/screaming+eagle+sauv+blanc

13

Not everyone equates owning a fine vineyard with profit.
A little story:

There is a certain winemaking family in Pomerol that I have known for many years.
About 20 years ago they sent over their 16-year-old son as part of a Bordeaux wine tour. (The one that Anthony Barton is/was instrumental in).

I met up with him when the tour arrived in Beverly Hills for a tasting promotion at the Four Seasons. People people were indirectly asking him “how much is it worth”. I was stuck in the middle translating, and when I began to explain that these people were asking about profit/valuation etc. it was obvious that he had never considered the family vineyards in such terms before. I know his parents and grandparents and they are of the same stock. One of the people basically asked him what is the value of his property . He said “the land isn’t worth anything unless you work it”. This represents an innate understanding of the distinction between rent and farming. And he was only 16 years old. Such is the nature of a great winemaking family and the traditions they instill in subsequent generations.

14

I don’t know but vineyards don’t get DUIs, busted for drugs or beat their wives and/or kids.

JD