Tenuta Rapitalà boss leaves amid GIV acquisition
Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV) has completed its acquisition of Tenuta Rapitalà, located in western Sicily, with second generation owner Laurent Bernard de la Gatinais stepping down from his position at the winery. The post Tenuta Rapitalà boss leaves amid GIV acquisition appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV) has completed its acquisition of Tenuta Rapitalà, located in western Sicily, with second generation owner Laurent Bernard de la Gatinais stepping down from his position at the winery.
Tenuta Rapitalà, in the province of Palermo, came under the custodianship of the Gatinais family 1968 when Frenchman Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and Sicilian Gigi Guarrasi married and undertook the modernisation of the winery. It was in 2007 that their son, Laurent, took the reins and became president.
Gatinais, who also previously served as president of the island's wine body Assovini Sicilia from 2020 until 2023, was embroiled in a police investigation concerning possible ties between Tenuta Rapitalà and the Camporeale mafia clan earlier this year. Gatinais categorically denied any links: "Tenuta Rapitalà affirms its non-involvement in mafia contexts and declares that it is available to investigators and investigators for any appropriate and necessary investigations."
Now GIV, which has held a majority stake in the estate and its 176 hectares of vineyards since 1999, has acquired 100% ownership. It is claimed that the timing of the deal has no correlation with the aforementioned investigation.
Succeeding Gatinais as winery president is Nino Caleca, a criminal lawyer and advisor to the regional anti-mafia commissioner.
A joint statement from GIV's president Corrado Casoli and director general Roberta Corrà read: "The new and growing challenges in national and international markets that our group faces on a daily basis require new strategies and involve the search for synergies that increasingly support the development of our brands and their enhancement. The full takeover of Rapitalà is thus part of this vision, with the certainty of continuing the winery's success story."
GIV extended its "heartfelt thanks" to Gatinais and toasted the "long-standing and valuable partnership".
Tenuta Rapitalà, in the province of Palermo, came under the custodianship of the Gatinais family 1968 when Frenchman Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and Sicilian Gigi Guarrasi married and undertook the modernisation of the winery. It was in 2007 that their son, Laurent, took the reins and became president.
Gatinais, who also previously served as president of the island's wine body Assovini Sicilia from 2020 until 2023, was embroiled in a police investigation concerning possible ties between Tenuta Rapitalà and the Camporeale mafia clan earlier this year. Gatinais categorically denied any links: "Tenuta Rapitalà affirms its non-involvement in mafia contexts and declares that it is available to investigators and investigators for any appropriate and necessary investigations."
Now GIV, which has held a majority stake in the estate and its 176 hectares of vineyards since 1999, has acquired 100% ownership. It is claimed that the timing of the deal has no correlation with the aforementioned investigation.
Succeeding Gatinais as winery president is Nino Caleca, a criminal lawyer and advisor to the regional anti-mafia commissioner.
A joint statement from GIV's president Corrado Casoli and director general Roberta Corrà read: "The new and growing challenges in national and international markets that our group faces on a daily basis require new strategies and involve the search for synergies that increasingly support the development of our brands and their enhancement. The full takeover of Rapitalà is thus part of this vision, with the certainty of continuing the winery's success story."
GIV extended its "heartfelt thanks" to Gatinais and toasted the "long-standing and valuable partnership". 
