Brands
From Rhône Valley to India: M. Chapoutier’s Journey of Award-Winning Wines
Mumbai – M. Chapoutier, a name synonymous with exceptional wines and a deep respect for terroir, proudly announces its winning wines from the James Suckling Report. Celebrating a rich history dating back to 1808, the brand continues to garner global acclaim, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the wine industry.
Originating in the picturesque Tain-l’Hermitage, Rhône Valley, France, M. Chapoutier was first established as “Calvet et Compagnie” and has evolved through generations. The partnership of Marius Chapoutier and Rodolphe Delépine in 1897 marked a significant milestone, birthing “Delépine et Chapoutier,” which began exporting wines to Europe. By 1922, Marius Chapoutier had taken sole ownership, renaming the company “Chapoutier et Compagnie,” and setting the stage for future success.
Michel Chapoutier, a pioneer in biodynamic viticulture, took over the reins in 1990. His commitment to a holistic and sustainable approach to agriculture continues to be a cornerstone of M. Chapoutier’s winemaking philosophy. This innovative approach, inspired by 19th-century scientist Rudolf Steiner, emphasizes natural processes and the interconnectedness of all living things, ensuring the production of exceptional quality wines.
While deeply rooted in the Rhône Valley, M. Chapoutier has expanded its presence globally. This has allowed the company to produce a diverse portfolio of wines catering to various palates, all while maintaining the family’s core values and commitment to quality.
Today, M. Chapoutier remains a thriving family business led by Michel Chapoutier, his wife Corinne, and their children, Mathilde and Maxime. Their dedication ensures M. Chapoutier continues to be a respected and influential name in the world of wine.
M. Chapoutier takes great pride in its numerous accolades. In 2019, the estate was ranked 5th in the “World’s Most Admired Wine Brands” by the British magazine “Drinks International.” Since the first edition of this ranking in 2011, Chapoutier has been the top French brand five times in nine years, highlighting its exceptional quality and innovative practices.
In the latest James Suckling report on the Rhône Valley, M. Chapoutier’s single-vineyard wines achieved an unprecedented feat: four wines were awarded a perfect 100 points. This remarkable accomplishment, never before seen in James Suckling reports, is a testament to the daily hard work of the vineyard and technical teams.
Now, Indian wine enthusiasts can now savor a selection of M. Chapoutier’s finest offerings, including:
● La Bernardine Rhône Valley – Châteauneuf-du-Pape
● M. Chapoutier Les Meysonniers AOP Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône Valley
● M. Chapoutier Côtes-du-Rhône “Belleruche” White
● M. Chapoutier Côtes-du-Rhône “Belleruche” Red
● M. Chapoutier Bila Haut
● Marius Red
● Marius White
VBev CEO, Sumedh Singh Mandla says “We are thrilled to bring the award-winning wines to the Indian market. We look forward to reaching out to the Indian audience and celebrating our love for exceptional wines.”
With these award-winning wines both M. Chapoutier and VBev are excited about the prospects of further expanding their presence in the dynamic and evolving Indian market.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
