Who Owns Château d'Yquem?
Château d'Yquem is owned by LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. The French wine estate was acquired by LVMH in 1999 and operates as a wholly-owned division within the Wines & Spirits segment. LVMH is publicly traded on Euronext Paris.
Parent Company
LVMH
Acquired
1999
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Sauternes, France
Who Owns Château d'Yquem?
- Parent Company: LVMH
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 1999
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: Euronext Paris: MC
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Château d'Yquem | LVMH | Wholly owned |
History of Château d'Yquem
- Founded: 1593
- Founders: Bertrand de Lur Saluces
- Acquired by LVMH: 1999
Château d'Yquem's history dates to at least 1593, when the estate in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux was documented under the ownership of the Sauvage family. The estate passed through several noble families before coming under the control of the Lur Saluces family in 1785, who would own and manage it for over two centuries.
The estate's reputation for producing the world's finest sweet wine was cemented in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, when Château d'Yquem was awarded the unique designation of Premier Cru Supérieur (First Superior Growth), placing it above all other Sauternes estates. This classification has never been revised and remains in effect today.
Château d'Yquem produces its wine from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot), a beneficial fungus that concentrates the sugars and flavors in the grapes. The production process is extraordinarily labor-intensive, with harvesters making multiple passes through the vineyard to select individual berries at the precise moment of optimal botrytization. In some years, the estate produces no wine at all if the vintage does not meet its standards.
In 1999, LVMH acquired Château d'Yquem from the Lur Saluces family after a prolonged and contentious acquisition process. Alexandre de Lur Saluces, who had managed the estate for decades, initially opposed the sale but ultimately sold his stake to LVMH. He continued as manager of the estate until 2004, when he was replaced by LVMH's management.
Under LVMH ownership, Château d'Yquem has maintained its commitment to quality and traditional production methods while benefiting from LVMH's global distribution network and resources. The estate also produces a dry white wine called "Y" (pronounced "Ygrec") in years when conditions are not suitable for Sauternes production.
About LVMH
LVMH operates through five distinct business segments that together create the world's most comprehensive luxury goods portfolio. In the first half of 2025, the company recorded revenue of €39.8 billion with profit from recurring operations of €9 billion, demonstrating solid performance despite challenging global economic and geopolitical conditions. LVMH employs approximately 186,000 people globally and maintains a portfolio of over 75 prestigious luxury brands serving affluent consumers worldwide.
Fashion & Leather Goods represents LVMH's largest business segment, generating €19.1 billion in H1 2025 revenue. This segment includes iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Fendi, Celine, Givenchy, and Loewe. Despite a 7% decline in organic revenue, the segment maintained very high operating margins, reflecting the enduring strength and pricing power of LVMH's core fashion and leather goods brands. Louis Vuitton continued to demonstrate powerful creativity through continuously reinvented iconic products and unique customer experiences, including "The Louis," a museum-like space in Shanghai designed as a cruise ship that epitomizes the brand's innovative spirit.
Wines & Spirits generated €2.6 billion in H1 2025 revenue, experiencing an 8% decline in organic growth. This segment includes prestigious champagne and spirits brands such as Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, and Hennessy. The segment faced ongoing weak demand for cognac, though champagne showed improvement in trends during the second quarter of 2025. Despite revenue pressure, the wines and spirits brands maintained their premium positioning and continued to invest in product innovation and heritage preservation.
Perfumes & Cosmetics achieved €4.1 billion in H1 2025 revenue, remaining stable on an organic basis. This segment demonstrated remarkable innovation and ongoing selective retail approaches, with successful launches including La Beauté Louis Vuitton, a new creative universe led by Dame Pat McGrath. The cosmetics and perfumes segment benefited from strong brand recognition and continued investment in product development, sustainability initiatives, and digital marketing capabilities.
Watches & Jewelry recorded €5.1 billion in H1 2025 revenue, remaining stable organically. This segment includes prestigious brands such as Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith. The segment benefited from the success of iconic lines and Tiffany & Co.'s renovated stores, which enhanced customer experience and brand presentation. The watches and jewelry brands maintained their focus on craftsmanship excellence, heritage preservation, and innovation in design and technology.
Selective Retailing generated €8.6 billion in H1 2025 revenue, achieving 2% organic growth. This segment includes Sephora, DFS (duty-free retail), and Le Bon Marché department store. Sephora continued to achieve growth in both revenue and profit, demonstrating strong performance in the competitive beauty retail market. The selective retailing segment benefited from improved local customer demand and effective digital transformation initiatives.
LVMH's corporate structure emphasizes brand-level management maintaining independent identities while benefiting from group resources and expertise. Each brand operates with significant autonomy, preserving its unique heritage and creative direction while accessing LVMH's shared resources in manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and technology. This structure enables brands to maintain authenticity and craftsmanship excellence while leveraging group-level scale and efficiency.
The company invests significantly in brand positioning, digital channels, and customer experience enhancement across all segments. LVMH has embraced digital transformation while maintaining the exclusivity and personal service that define luxury retail. The company's e-commerce platforms, digital marketing initiatives, and customer relationship management systems complement physical retail experiences and enhance brand engagement.
LVMH's supply chain emphasizes craftsmanship quality and heritage production supporting luxury positioning. The company maintains significant manufacturing facilities in France and Italy, preserving traditional artisanal skills and production techniques while investing in modern technology and sustainability practices. This commitment to quality and authenticity underpins LVMH's brand equity and customer trust.
Financial highlights from H1 2025 demonstrate LVMH's resilience and strategic discipline. The company achieved an operating margin of 22.6% and generated operating free cash flow of €4 billion, representing a 29% increase compared to the previous year. Net financial debt decreased by 16% to €10.2 billion, reflecting strong cash generation and prudent financial management.
- Founded: 1987
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: Euronext Paris: MC
Where Is Château d'Yquem Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Sauternes, France
- Manufacturing / Operations: France
Brands Owned by LVMH
- Acqua di Parma - Italian luxury fragrance brand known for sophisticated scents and Italian elegan...
- Benefit Cosmetics - American beauty brand known for playful makeup products and eyebrow expertise, o...
- Berluti - Italian luxury menswear and footwear brand renowned for exquisite craftsmanship,...
- Bulgari - Italian luxury jewelry and watch brand renowned for bold designs and precious ge...
- Celine - French luxury fashion house specializing in leather goods, ready-to-wear, and ac...
- Chaumet - French luxury jewelry brand renowned for tiaras and romantic pieces with imperia...
- Dior - French luxury fashion house founded in 1946 by Christian Dior, owned by LVMH and...
- Dom Pérignon - Prestigious French champagne brand known for vintage cuvées and exceptional qual...
- Fendi - Italian luxury fashion house known for leather goods, haute couture, and innovat...
- Fenty Beauty - Modern luxury beauty brand by Rihanna known for inclusive makeup and innovative ...
- Fred - French luxury jewelry brand known for contemporary elegance and classic savoir-f...
- Givenchy - French luxury fashion house known for haute couture, ready-to-wear, and beauty p...
- Guerlain - French luxury perfume and cosmetics brand renowned for iconic fragrances since 1...
- Hennessy - French cognac brand renowned for exceptional quality and global prestige, owned ...
- Hublot - Swiss luxury watch brand known for innovative designs and bold aesthetics, owned...
- Kenzo - Japanese-French luxury fashion house known for bold colors and innovative design...
- Krug - French champagne house known for complex, vintage-free cuvées and connoisseur ap...
- Le Bon Marché - French luxury department store known for Parisian elegance and curated retail ex...
- Loewe - Spanish luxury fashion house renowned for artisanal leatherwork and avant-garde ...
- Louis Vuitton - French luxury fashion house and brand, part of the LVMH group....
- Moët & Chandon - French champagne house renowned for prestigious cuvées and global recognition, o...
- Rimowa - German luxury luggage and travel goods brand known for innovative aluminum suitc...
- Sephora - Prestige beauty retailer and cosmetics brand owned by LVMH....
- Zenith - Swiss luxury watch manufacturer renowned for the legendary El Primero movement, ...
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