Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) — the largest French wine group and one of the world’s leading players in the wine industry

The group was founded in 1979 by Joseph Helfrich in Alsace. Since its inception, the company has grown from a small wine business into an international corporation covering the entire winemaking value chain — from grape growing and blending to vinification, bottling, and export. Les Grands Chais de France is renowned for its deep knowledge of terroirs, a diverse brand portfolio, and a large-scale global export network.

The company is headquartered in Alsace, and its activities span nearly all of France’s key wine-producing regions, including Alsace, Bordeaux, Languedoc, Rhône, Diois, Jura, Burgundy, and the Loire Valley.

Key Facts

• Founded: 1979
• Founder: Joseph Helfrich
• Country: France
• Headquarters: Alsace
• Turnover: over €1.1 billion
• Employees: approximately 3,500 people
• Exports: more than 170 countries
• Owned and partner vineyards: more than 3,000 ha
• Segments: still wines, sparkling wines, mass-market and premium brands

Production Capabilities

Les Grands Chais de France controls the entire winemaking process:

• Grape harvesting from owned and partner vineyards across France’s key wine regions
• Winemaking, blending, aging, and preparation for bottling
• Large-scale bottling lines with packaging options including glass, Bag-in-Box, and other formats
• Logistics, warehousing facilities, and international distribution

The group also owns and develops winemaking estates and brands, with volumes enabling the production of hundreds of millions of bottles of wine annually.

Brands and Portfolio

Les Grands Chais de France owns a number of well-known wine brands:

• J.P. Chenet — one of the world’s best-selling French wine brands
• Calvet — a classic Bordeaux brand
• Grand Sud, Jelzin, Arthur Metz, and others

The portfolio includes red, white, and rosé wines, sparkling wines, as well as ranges for different market segments.

Expertise and Positioning

Les Grands Chais de France combines deep expertise in winemaking traditions with modern production technologies. The company serves multiple markets and sales channels — from large-scale retail to HoReCa and export markets. GCF actively develops international sales and strengthens its presence in the premium segment through strategic acquisitions and the expansion of its portfolio of winemaking assets.