CMS advises House of Baden and Rotkäppchen-Mumm on establishing a joint venture

Frankfurt/Main – Markgräflich Badische Verwaltung GmbH & Co. KG, the operator of the Margrave of Baden vineyard estate, and Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien GmbH are joining forces to set up a joint venture for marketing and sales. As of 1 September 2017, the two partners intend to cooperate under the name Markgräflich Badisches Weinhaus GmbH. Rotkäppchen-Mumm brings its branding skills and sales expertise to the partnership, while the House of Baden is contributing exclusive wines from the Margrave of Baden estate.

A CMS team headed by Dr Christoph Schücking and Katja Pohl advised both partners on all legal aspects of forming the joint venture. The House of Baden and Rotkäppchen-Mumm will continue to operate as separate business entities going forward.

The House of Baden, which has held the title of margrave since 1112, is closely associated with the development of quality winegrowing in Baden. In 1495, the margraves enacted the first wine laws. In the 18th century, they adopted single-variety Riesling cultivation and introduced Chasselas grapes in the southern Baden district of Markgräflerland. Similarly, in 1923 the Müller-Thurgau grape variety was first cultivated at Lake Constance on the family’s estates. Schloss Salem on Lake Constance is the ancestral home of the House of Baden and the headquarters of its vineyard estate. The estate is owned personally by the margraves of Baden and its planted area of 135 hectares makes it one of the largest private winegrowing estates in Germany. It is also a member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP).

Family-owned firm Rotkäppchen-Mumm is based in Freyburg, in the Unstrut region of Germany. It is among the world’s leading producers of sparkling wine, spirits and wine, with over 180 years of winemaking experience. More than 630 employees at six locations generated sales of EUR 986 million in 2016, producing around 271 million bottles.

Inhouse Legal Team at Rotkäppchen-Mumm

Lucia Schwab

CMS Hasche Sigle

Dr Christoph Schücking
Katja Pohl, both Lead, both Partners, both Corporate/M&A
Stefan Lehr, Partner, Commercial/Merger Control
Dr Nikolas Gregor, Counsel, IP

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