Hallgarten has expanded its portfolio with the addition of Armagnac house Darroze, founded in the late 1960s by Francis Darroze.

Presently under the stewardship of Marc Darroze, Hallgarten said that the house is a leading creator of Armagnac.

Darroze works with around 30 individual estates, maintaining a library of vintages dating back to 1923.

On its place in the Hallgarten portfolio, the importer said that Darroze would fit alongside Cognac Frapin in its growing portfolio of grape-based spirits.

The business continued that it was set to be the sole distributor of Darroze’s Grand Assemblage range and its single-estate vintage collection.

Will Winterton, buying director at Hallgarten, said: “Armagnac Darroze’s pursuit of excellence has been long recognised by many of the finest hospitality operators in the UK, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to further develop their distribution in the sector.

“Following the success we have had with Cognac Frapin, partnering with Darroze strengthens our premium offering, providing our customers with a bottle to pour across all stages of the dining experience.”

Marc Darroze, CEO of Armagnac Darroze, added: “We are delighted to partner with Hallgarten & Novum Wines to expand our presence in the UK.

“Their expertise and strong relationships across both the on-and off-trade made it an easy decision to choose them to help us bring our Armagnacs to a wider audience.”