What Ballande & Méneret does

Ballande & Méneret is a French B2B wine merchant and trading company headquartered in Bruges, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, specializing in Grands Crus Classés — classified Bordeaux growths representing 80% of business activity. The company is wholly owned by the Ballande family, whose diversified Groupe Ballande traces to 1859; the wine trading business was established in 1988 as Bernard & Méneret and renamed following acquisition in 2001. The firm holds three owned vineyards (Château Baret in Pessac-Léognan, Château Vieux Manoir, and the prestigious 4th Grand Cru Classé Château Prieuré-Lichine in Margaux) and operates a global distribution network serving 1,300 active customers across 86 countries, with regional sales teams covering Asia-Oceania (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo offices), the Americas (São Paulo plus US consignment stocks), Europe-Africa, and Eastern Europe. Geographic revenue split is 50% Asia, 30% Europe, and 20% Americas, with active participation in premier trade events (Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, VINEXPO Asia Hong Kong) and the annual primeur futures campaign cycle.

The company's underlying infrastructure consists of two complementary warehouse sites in the Bordeaux region — Ludon-Médoc (left bank) and Beychac-et-Cailleau (right bank) — totaling 20,000 m² with 7.9 million bottle storage capacity, climate regulation at 17-18°C, humidity control, anti-vibration systems, and a dedicated RFSE customs suspension zone for export efficiency. Inventory of approximately 3 million bottles across 12,000 references supports both deliverable stock sales and primeur (futures) campaigns with multi-year allocation relationships. The business model combines transaction-based wine trading (futures and spot inventory across classified growths, world wines from Italy/Chile/USA/Australia/Argentina, and exclusive estates) with managed logistics services including packaging, labeling, shipping, and customs handling. Pricing is quote-based across vintage, producer, and market conditions with no public pricing — typical of B2B fine wine channels.

The company is podium-ranked among French wine exporters by value per French Customs data, dispatches 10,500+ orders annually, and maintains a multinational management team organized by regional sales territories. Recent operational milestones include the 2021 headquarters relocation to Bruges, the launch of the 2025 Primeur campaign for the 2024 vintage, and continued participation in flagship 2024–2025 industry trade events.

Name

Ballande & Méneret

Legal name

SAS BALLANDE & MENERET

Website

https://ballande-meneret.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ballande & Méneret is a family-owned French B2B wine merchant specializing in Grands Crus Classés (80% of activity), serving 1,300 active customers across 86 countries with regional sales teams in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The company operates dual Bordeaux warehouses (7.9M bottle capacity) and three owned vineyards including the 4th Grand Cru Classé Château Prieuré-Lichine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Wine Trading

NAICS

Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Wineries (312130)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beverage Import/Export & Cross-Border Wholesale (AFAIAGAL)

Keywords

• Fine wine trading
• Grands Crus Classés
• Bordeaux wine merchant
• Wine futures primeurs
• Wine storage logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fine wine trading - Grands Crus Classés: Specialist in Bordeaux classified growths, representing 80% of activity. Sources wines through primeurs campaigns and maintains perpetual allocations from estates. Sells both futures (primeurs) and deliverable stock.
2. World wines distribution: Great wines from around the world including Italy, Chile, Argentina, USA, Australia featured in catalogs for comprehensive range alongside French wines.
3. Logistics and storage services: Complete packaging management, supply, labeling/packaging, shipping, customs procedures, and client reception services through owned warehouse facilities.
4. Wine estate holdings: Owns vineyards including Château Baret (26 ha, Pessac-Léognan), Château Vieux Manoir (45 ha), Château Prieuré-Lichine (80 ha, Margaux 4th Grand Cru Classé).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ballande & Méneret is a B2B wine merchant and exporter that trades Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés (80% of activity) and international fine wines to 1,300+ professional buyers in 86 countries. The company sources classified growths through primeurs futures campaigns, holds 3 million bottles in stock, and operates dual-site climate-controlled warehouses (20,000 m², 7.9 million-bottle capacity) with an RFSE customs zone for export logistics. Complementary services include on-site bottling, packaging, labeling, storage, customs handling, and shipping.

Product overview

Ballande & Méneret is a French wine merchant and trading company specializing in classified great wines (Grands Crus Classés). The company operates as a unified wine trading platform offering three core product categories: fine Bordeaux classified wines (1855 Classification, Saint-Émilion, Graves, Pomerol), world wines from international estates (Italy, Chile, USA, Australia, Argentina), and exclusive winery selections. These products are complemented by professional wine storage and logistics services across two facilities totaling 20,000 m² in Bordeaux, plus wine futures (primeurs) campaigns. The company also holds three family-owned vineyards (Château Baret, Château Vieux Manoir, Château Prieuré-Lichine) and has acquired several wine merchant brands including Dock du Vin, Bordeaux Magnum, and Sovex Grands Châteaux.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fine Wines (Grands Crus Classés) Specialized trading of classified Bordeaux wines including 1855 Classification, Saint-Émilion, Crus Classés de Graves, and Pomerol wines. Represents 80% of company activity with regular allocations in primeurs futures campaigns and ideal conservation conditions.
• World Wines International fine wines from prestigious foreign and French terroirs including Italy, Chile, United States, France, Australia, and Argentina, featured in catalogs as a comprehensive range alongside French wines.
• Exclusive Wineries (Marques Exclusives) Exceptionally selected estates from Italy, Australia, United States, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, and France, curated by the company's expert team as a meticulously selected portfolio of prestigious wines.
• Wine Storage & Logistics Professional wine storage facilities with 7.9 million-bottle capacity across two complementary sites in Ludon-Médoc (left bank) and Beychac-et-Cailleau (right bank). Services include climate-controlled storage, packaging, labeling, shipping, customs handling, and client reception under an RFSE customs zone.
• Primeurs (Wine Futures Campaigns) Annual En Primeur campaigns providing early purchase opportunity for new vintage wines with access to regular allocations of futures through broker and wine-grower relationships.
• Château Baret Family-owned wine estate in Pessac-Léognan appellation, acquired by the Ballande Group in 1867, covering 26 hectares.
• Château Vieux Manoir Family-owned wine estate in Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, acquired in 1989, located in Targon covering 45 hectares.
• Château Prieuré-Lichine Fourth Grand Cru Classé wine estate in Margaux appellation, acquired in 1999, covering 80 hectares.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked on podium for French wine exports by value (French Customs)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Dock du VinsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Wine merchant shop launched in 2016 as part of brand building strategy.
• Bordeaux MagnumsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Acquired in 2016 to strengthen wine merchant operations.
• Bernard & Méneret (acquired)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001The trading business was originally established following the acquisition of Bernard & Méneret in 2001, resulting in the company name change to Ballande & Méneret. The original company was founded in 1988.
• Sovex Grands ChâteauxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Bordeaux wine merchant acquired in 1998, founded in 1982, expanding Ballande's wine trading capabilities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ballande-et-meneret
• Instagraminstagram.com/ballande_meneret

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ballande & Méneret