As the trade moves into autumn, Alliance Wine has added two new French producers to its portfolio: Champagne Lenoble and Maison Albert Bichot. 

According to Alliance, these partnerships join the roster of producers gained from its acquisition of H2Vin, which saw it take on Loire, Burgundy and Rhône producers, including Clos Rougeard, Domaine Guiberteau, Didier Dagueneau and Clos du Caillou. 

Alliance said that the recent additions reinforce its dedication to classic French wine regions, which become ever more important as the company experiences a 30% year-on-year increase in fine wine sales. 

Founded in 1920, Champagne Lenoble was recently acquired by the Frère-Gallienne. Based in the village of Damery, wine creation is led by winemaker Julien Lardy, who first worked at Domaine Ramonet in Burgundy before moving to Champagne. 

Meanwhile, Albert Bichot joins Alliance as one of Burgundy’s leading family houses. Founded in 1830, the estate is now run by the sixth generation. 

On the two estates, Jean Wareing, head of buying at Alliance Wine, said: “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.”  

Both producers are due to arrive with Alliance in mid-September and will be available to both the on- and off-trade.