American whiskey producer Uncle Nearest has completed a curious transaction in France, acquiring a Grande Champagne wine grape grower in the country’s Cognac region.
The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, sees Tennessee-based Uncle Nearest claim to have become “the largest Grande Champagne vineyard owner” in Cognac. Domaine Saint Martin, which comprises 50 acres of vineyard and “adjoins” a cooperage, a distillery and cellars, will not assume the Uncle Nearest name and will be headed up by a former marketing VP for Bacardi’s Patrón Tequila brand, Adrian Parker.
“The strategic roadmap … entailed exhaustive historical research as the foundation, … assembling a top-tier team that is finely attuned to the discerning Cognac consumer’s desires, and then securing a well-known historic property as provenance,” the company said this week.
While details were not disclosed on whether there will be cross-pollination between Uncle Nearest’s Nearest Green distillery in Tennessee and the vineyard going forward, the company teased that “more will be unveiled in 2024”.
Uncle Nearest’s namesake whiskey portfolio debuted six years ago and includes a Bourbon as well as a rye whiskey.
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