Jean Valvis puts his name on premium wine brand

Sixteen years after his first visit to Romania and after having created two of the best-known national brands - Dorna (sold to Coca-Cola) and LaDorna (acquired by Lactalis), businessman Jean Valvis decided it was time he gave his own brand name to a product: Chateau Valvis, a premium wine produced in Domeniile Samburesti, Olt county.

"I brought my two kids to harvest grapes and apples in Samburesti last year, because I want what I've built here to stay in the family," said Valvis, who signed his second exit from the Dorna business this year, after he sold the dairy operation to French giant Lactalis in a deal put at 70-90m euros.

The business was sold less than six years after he signed the agreement with Coca-Cola and sold Dorna mineral water in a 40m-euro deal.
It was as late as this year, after two major deals in his "portfolio", that the Swiss-born