Castel Group

Starting with a wine merchant business in Bordeaux, the company steadily expanded in size and scope. Castel grew into other parts of the wine business, first bottling, then acquisition of viniculture lands and brands—Chateau de Goelane, a Bordeaux Superieur, was acquired in 1957—later distribution by buying the wine specialty stores of Nicolas (1998) and marketing. In 2022, French anti-terrorism prosecutors opened an investigation into allegations of potential complicity in war crimes made against Groupe Castel in the Central African Republic (CAR), citing deals to provide armed militia UPC with cash and vehicle support in order to secure regional market position. ==Wine==

Groupe Castel produces many table wines (vins de table). It expanded its wine offering by buying its main competitor, Société des Vins de France, from Pernod Ricard in 1992. The company has a number of well branded wines such as Baron de Lestac, Roche Mazet, Vieux Papes and La Villageoise. It also bought the Malesan and Sidi Brahim wines. In 2008 the company expanded from the south of France to the Loire valley and the Bourgogne. Higher tier wines are sold by the Chateaux and Estate section of Castel (listed below). Since 2008 Groupe Castel has made more efforts to decrease its dependence on the French market and become more visible in English speaking countries, Eastern Europe, and the Eastern Asia, primarily China. As of 2015, Castel owns 1,400 ha of vineyards in France and 1,600 ha in Morocco, Tunisia, and Ethiopia in Africa. Baron de Lestac is produced as a red wine (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and a white wine (a blend of Sauvignon and Sémillon), both Bordeaux AOC wines and produced with an influence of oak. The wine is sold in a variety of containers including bottles and bag-in-box. A Haut-Médoc AOC wine is also produced, under the name Les Hauts de Lestac, and is marketed as a high-end version of Baron de Lestac. In 2007, at 750,000 cases (9 million bottles), Baron de Lestac was the third most selling Bordeaux brand behind Mouton Cadet and Castel's Malesan, and the fastest-growing. ==Beer==

for Castel Beer, the company's core beer product In 1990, it purchased a major competitor in African beer, Brasseries et Glacières Internationales (BGI). The company produces 28 million hectolitres of beer and soft drinks in Africa each year. In 2001, SABMiller acquired 20 percent of Castel's African Beverages operations and Castel acquired 38 percent of SABMiller Africa and SABMiller Botswana. An update of the partnership in 2012 saw the two combine their Nigerian businesses under SABMiller's control with their Angolan businesses set to be handled by Castel. ==Other==

Castel produces olive oil from Morocco and maintains sugar plantations in Africa. ==List of Castel Chateaux and Estates==

• Château d'Arcins • Château Barreyres • Château Beychevelle (GCC) • Château de La Botinière • Château du Bousquet • Château Campet • Château Cavalier • Domaine de la Clapière • Château Ferrande • Château de Goëlane • Château de Haut Coulon • Château Hourtou • Château de l'Hyvernière • Château Latour Camblanes • Château du Lort • Château Malbec • Château Mirefleurs • Château Montlabert • Château Tour Prignac ==References==