Strategic investment bolsters national luxury importer’s growth plans
EPI, a private family-owned (French) investment company and Folio Fine Wine Partners, renowned as one of the best purveyors of fine wines in the US market, are pleased to announce the signature of a family and investment partnership between EPI’s Wine & Champagne Division & Folio Fine Wine Partners.
The investment follows the demonstrated success of Folio Fine Wine Partners in building a global portfolio of some of the best family-owned producers from the best winemaking regions in the world. It also reflects Folio’s success in building the Charles Heidsieck Champagne brand, owned by EPI, in the complex and competitive US wine market over the last five years.
This is a significant move for both families and companies, and offers the opportunity to develop and enhance the current portfolio of brands and distribution partnerships. Both EPI’s Wine & Champagne Division and Folio are independently-owned, and share a vision toward a focus on quality and consistent long-term approach to deliver business success.
Michael Mondavi will continue as Chairman of the newly formed Folio Fine Wine Partners Board, and Damien Lafaurie, President of EPI’s Wine and Champagne Division, will join Folio’s Board of Directors. Paolo Battegazzore will continue as CEO of Folio Fine Wine Partners with his existing leadership team.
Michael Mondavi, Founder and Coach of Folio Fine Wine Partners is pleased with the new partnership: “Our family is delighted to be partnering with business visionary Christofer Descours with whom we have built a wonderful relationship with over the last five years. The EPI values, vision and commitment to brand building align perfectly with Folio, and this partnership is testament to the quality of company that our team has created.”
He continued: “This partnership will enable us to continue our growth trajectory and continue to bring fine wines from some of the best winemaking families to our distributors, customers and wine lovers across the US.”
Damien Lafaurie, President of EPI’s Wine and Champagne Division commented: “We are delighted to join Folio as a shareholder and to help it develop further. We will support Folio’s talented and independent team in further establishing Folio’s leadership in being one of the best purveyor of fine wines in the US and the EPI’s positions in the US, which is a strategic market for the Group”.
About Folio Fine Wine Partners:
Folio Fine Wine Partners was founded in 2004 by Michael Mondavi and his wife, Isabel, with their children, Dina and Rob Jr. Folio is an importer, fine wine agency and producer of quality wines from the world’s premiere and emerging wine regions, providing sales, marketing and public relations services to wine brands from California, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Portugal, Austria, and South Africa. For more information about Folio Fine Wine Partners, visit
http://www.foliowine.com or social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About EPI
EPI is a private investment company chaired by Christopher Descours. The EPI Group plays a role as a committed shareholder in the companies it selects and supports in the development of their operations and the harnessing of their know-how. Its value creation strategy is based on several business divisions: Fashion and Luxury (Bonpoint, J.M. Weston) led by Valérie Hermann; Wines and Champagne with world-class Houses (Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck, Biondi-Santi, etc.) led by Damien Lafaurie; Financial investments, including real estate, led by Evrard de Montgolfier. The Group’s teams are driven by a shared passion and ambition to unleash the full potential of the projects and talents it brings together.
