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France's LGI Wines promotes winemaker Xavier Roger to MD

Published:  06 March, 2014

Southern French specialists LGI Wines' chief winemaker Xavier Roger has stepped up to the role of managing director in the wake of founder Alain Grignon's retirement.

Xavier RogerXavier RogerChief winemaker Xavier Roger has been promoted to managing director of LGI Wines in the wake of Alain Grignon's retirement.

The export company, which was established by Grignon in 1999, sources wine from 6,000 ha in the Languedoc and 2,500 ha in Gascony through co-operatives and wineries, and it packages them specifically for each market. LGI currently sources and supplies wines to over 200 clients in 28 countries around the world.

Roger joined LGI in 2001 as winemaker following viticultural posts in Nimes for three years.  He will continue to manage all winemaking and contracts with co-operatives and growers, but will now also oversee the management board. The board comprises sales director Cédric Duquenoy, LGI China sales director Jérome Sabate, production manager Eric Roure and financial director Laurent Gazeau - all of whom have been at LGI for a minimum of eight years.

Roger said: "It's always been important that I have regular contact with our customers so we can truly be a listening partner and make just the right wines for them.  This means that I've seen the business from A to Z and can take up Alain's reins - but it is down to the dynamism and expertise of the team he's built here over the last 15 years that we're ready to take LGI into the next chapter of its story."

LGI's turnover in 2011 was €30 million for Europe, and it exports 2 million cases annually. The UK was the company's first market and has seen volume and value growth of 20% year on year since 1999, which is split 35% off-trade and 65% on-trade. 

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