Louis Latour Agencies

Two New Zealand Wineries join Louis Latour Agencies

11 December 2019

We are delighted to announce that Pyramid Valley and Smith & Sheth from Aotearoa NZ Fine Wine Estates (AONZ) will join the portfolio in February 2020. AONZ is an umbrella company created by Steve Smith MW, of Craggy Range fame and a New Zealand Master of Wine, together with Brian Sheth, an investor and wildlife conservationist from Texas, with a strong connection to New Zealand.

New Zealand wines form an integral part of the Louis Latour Agencies portfolio and Will Oatley, Managing Director is delighted with this new win as the agency start their 30th year of business . He says, “The wines are a perfect fit the rest of our portfolio; these are expressive wines made with passion and with a deep concern for the natural environment.”

Pyramid Valley is one of the pre-eminent practitioners of biodynamic viticulture in New Zealand. The winery, founded by Mike and Claudia Weersing who searched the world for the best place to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, finally settling on a unique site in North Canterbury near the town of Waikari. In 2017, a second vineyard was purchased in Lowburn, Central Otago. Both sites are managed following the principals of biodynamic viticulture and the winemaking follows natural processes with the use of indigenous yeast, no additives, natural fining and little, if any, filtration.

Smith & Sheth is a contemporary negociant inspired by the original French negociants and British merchants who worked, using their connections, to create expert wines. Following in their footsteps and building on over 35 years spent forging relationships, Smith & Sheth hand select only the best fruit from exceptional vineyards, then nurture, blend and bottle wines that express the beauty and character of a place, and the passion of its people under the CRU label. Smith & Sheth are based in Hawkes Bay.

Chief Executive of AONZ, Michael Henley says “It is great to be working with the team at Louis Latour Agencies, they are an established, responsible, brand building company who have excellent contacts in this competitive market. We look forward to introducing the new Smith & Sheth CRU wines to the market and reconnecting with passionate Pyramid Valley supporters.”

We will initially carry four Smith + Sheth CRU wines from Hawkes Bay and Marlborough and four Pyramid Valley wines from North Canterbury and Central Otago. The rare and collectible Pyramid Valley Botanicals range will follow in the Autumn of 2020.