Growing up 30 minutes from Pauillac (Bordeaux region), the grounds of Chateau Pichon Baron and its vineyards were basically my backyard as a child. The chateau dates back to the 19th century and the estate is adjacent to the renowned and majestic Chateau Latour. For the connoisseurs, the wine, 2nd Cru Classé, has a grape variety made of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. If you have the opportunity, try the 2000 vintage and for investment buy 2015 & 2016. Although it sounds extremely romantic, owning a Chateau and the winemaking business is anything but easy and requires deep pockets. Some of the most prestigious Chateaux in France wouldn’t have survived in the past 20 years without investments from Asia (China leading the way), the US and international consortiums. Weather, crop yield, diseases and an ultra competitive global market require a solid structure and careful planning to cash in on the good years and survive the bad. Despite this, there is always a demand from international b...