Maison Leroy
Producer website
Maison Leroy was founded in 1868 and has been a negociant operation throughout its history. As a negociant, Maison Leroy purchases grapes, must (unfermented juice), and finished wine (both in barrel and in bottle) to finish (as appropriate) and place the Leroy label on. Leroy wines are ranked highly in the negociant hierarchy with many of the bottlings being very highly sought. This reputation comes from long-standing relationships that the Leroy family has in Burgundy. These relationships allow Maison Leroy to procure choice wines for the label. Bottlings vary from vintage to vintage, based upon what can be acquired at the quality levels required for the Leroy label. In addition to owning Maison Leroy, Lalou Bize-Leroy is proprietor of Domaine Leroy and Domaine D'Auvenay. Both of these Domaines produce wines from wholly-owned vineyards and are distinct from the Maison Leroy portfolio, despite label similarities between Maison and Domaine Leroy.
The Japanese luxury department store owner, Takashimaya, shaped a unique business alliance with Leroy in 1988. Takashimaya acquired 1/3 of the shares in Maison Leroy, provided the funding needed for Madame Leroy to establish Domaine Leroy and purchase Vosne-Romanée vineyards of Charles Noellat and Gevrey-Chambertin vineyards of Philippe-Rémy. Takashimaya is still co-owner of Maison Leroy and exclusive distributor to the important Japanese market. Some wines from Maison Leroy are only available in Japan.