Vidal-Fleury joins González Byass UK portfolio, expanding Rhône Valley wine selection for British market

Vidal-Fleury, the oldest operating winery in France’s Rhône Valley, has joined the portfolio of González Byass UK. This new partnership will see a selection of Vidal-Fleury’s red, white, and rosé wines distributed across the United Kingdom. The agreement was announced this week by both companies.

The addition of Vidal-Fleury marks the third European winery to join González Byass UK in the past year. Famiglia Castellani from Tuscany became part of the group in November 2024, followed by Jean Bouchard from Burgundy in February 2025. With these recent moves, González Byass UK continues to expand its offering of European wines to the British market.

Founded in 1781, Vidal-Fleury is based in Côte-Rôtie, at the heart of the Northern Rhône vineyards. Since 1984, it has been owned by the Guigal family but has maintained independent management. Over recent years, Vidal-Fleury has invested significantly in its facilities. In 2008, it opened a new winemaking center that increased its capacity for aging and bottling wine. In 2020, Antoine Dupré took over as winemaker and managing director. Under his leadership, the winery has focused on developing its range while preserving its reputation for producing wines with strong regional character.

Melissa Draycott, managing director of González Byass UK, said that welcoming Vidal-Fleury is an important step for the company. She highlighted the winery’s long history and commitment to quality as key reasons for its inclusion in their portfolio. Draycott noted that Vidal-Fleury’s wines reflect the diversity and character of Rhône appellations.

Antoine Dupré expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with González Byass. He pointed out that Rhône wines are already well received among British wine lovers and said he looks forward to bringing their range even closer to consumers in the UK.

The distribution agreement covers a variety of Vidal-Fleury wines from different parts of the Rhône Valley. These include wines from northern appellations such as Hermitage and Saint-Joseph, as well as southern regions like Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines will be available through both hospitality channels and retail outlets across the United Kingdom.

This move strengthens González Byass UK’s position as a distributor of European wines and gives British consumers greater access to one of France’s most historic wineries. The partnership is expected to benefit both companies by expanding their reach in a competitive market and offering more choices to wine enthusiasts throughout the country.