Alliance Wine strengthens French portfolio with Champagne Lenoble and Maison Albert Bichot

Press Release | London, 1st September 2026

New partnerships in Champagne and Burgundy, mark the next stage of the merchant's investment in France.

Alliance Wine, named Fine Wine Merchant of the Year at the 2026 Sommelier Wine Awards, has added two new considered French partnerships to its portfolio: Champagne Lenoble and Maison Albert Bichot.

These partnerships build on the momentum gained from Alliance's acquisition of H2Vin, which brought with it renowned Loire, Burgundy and Rhône producers, including Clos Rougeard, Domaine Guiberteau, Didier Dagueneau, Clos du Caillou.  France has been a key part of Alliance's portfolio since the company was founded over 40 years ago. These recent additions reinforce its dedication to providing a top-quality selection from France's classic wine regions. The result of this commitment is further highlighted by a 30% year on-year increase in fine wine sales.

 

Champagne Lenoble and Albert Bichot are exactly the kind of producers we look for; family-owned, quality-obsessed and doing something our customers can't get anywhere else. We've been deliberate about identifying these partnerships that build depth in our French regions, to drive our desire for our customers to have the best possible choice, in quality and range, and satisfy all their requirements.” said Jean Wareing MW, Head of Buying.

Champagne Lenoble, founded in 1920, has been acquired by the Frère-Gallienne family – also shareholders in Château Cheval Blanc. Recent investments in the winery have bolstered the already exceptionally high quality of the wines, as well as further development in the cellars and guest accommodation. Winemaker Julien Lardy started his career at Domaine Ramonet in Burgundy before moving to Champagne to craft wines of exceptional finesse, and the results are breathtaking. High percentages of the perpetual reserve, ageing in magnum, and large neutral oak aging on some cuvees add further depth and complexity to the range of wines.

Albert Bichot joins Alliance as one of Burgundy’s leading family houses. Founded in 1831 and now run by the sixth generation, Albert Bichot combines its own estates and a négociant production, supported by dedicated viticulture and wine making teams across Burgundy’s key sub-regions. Under Albéric Bichot’s leadership, the house has built a strong reputation for quality and terroir-driven wines.

The 100 hectares owned by the family count numerous Grands and Premiers Crus from Chablis to Moulin à Vent: Domaine Long-Depaquit in Chablis, Domaine du Clos-Frantin and Château-Gris in Côte de Nuits, Vignoble du Pavillon in Côte de Beaune, Vignoble Adélie in Mercurey and Domaine de Rochegrès in Moulin-à Vent. Committed to sustainable viticulture, estates have been certified organic since 2018, with Domaine Long-Depaquit certified from the 2024 vintage. Albert Bichot gives Alliance the depth of prestigious estate bottling as well as dependable volume, in a region where either is hard to secure.

For on-trade and independent buyers, the houses open up two of France's most competitive categories - prestige Champagne and premium benchmark Burgundy - with keen pricing and reliable stock through one supplier, at a moment when both are driving premium demand.

 

These two houses let us drive quality French wine at every price point and in every channel, from the independent shelf to the fine dining list. Re-establishing Champagne Lenoble in the UK is a real opportunity for our customers, and consolidating Albert Bichot's distribution means the wider trade can finally get behind it. With exclusive distribution across the country for both producers, we are beyond excited to be starting this journey with these incredible producers,” concludes Ned Llewellyn, Sales Director.  

The wines are due to arrive with by mid-September, for more information, samples or pricing, please contact:

 

By Kiki Evans, Press, Content & Design Manager, Alliance Wine.