French wine baron snaps up vineyard in Japan

AFP, March, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — A top French wine baron said Thursday he had acquired a vineyard on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan, becoming the first French wine player to set up shop in the country.

"I have just bought a little six-hectare domain, to produce a high-end white wine," in association with a Japanese winegrower, said Bernard Magrez, former head of the wine and spirits group William Pitters.

Magrez, who owns 35 ...