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World's top winemaking families committed to 'long term'

Published:  10 February, 2012

The world's top winemaking families aren't in the trade to make "quick profits", but are committed to investing in the long term.

The world's top winemaking families aren't in the trade to make "quick profits", but are committed to investing in the long term.

Speaking yesterday in London, the president of the Primum Familiae Vini group, Frédéric Drouhin, empahised that the families' histories and long-term vision were perfectly suited to the wine trade.

"In the past years bankers shocked the world with their short term vision. That's not the aim of family businesses. Making quick profits is not the aim of our companies, that's why international corporations are not that interested in wine. They prefer to stick to spirits.

"We plant vineyards for the long-term. We wait eight to 10 years to get a good wine, but sometimes 30 to get a great one. What we do today won't payback for us, but for the next generation," said Drouhin.

The group was founded 20 years ago by Drouhin's father Robert, and Miguel Torres. The other nine members are Pol Roger, Hugel & Fils, Perrin & Fils, Marchesi Antinori, Tenuta San Guido, Vega Sicilia, Château Mouton Rothschild, Egon Müller-Schwarzhof and Symington Family Estates. Yesterday, at Mayfair restaurant The Square, the group showcased two wines from each of their cellars.

Piero Antinori, presenting the 2008 Solaia, said: "The fact we all consider the profit of our companies not as the final goal, but as a means to make us stronger in order to create a very long future of continuous family ownership."

Baroness Philippine de Rothschild said the collective was stronger than each individual family. "We don't have to be here. We're quite happy to be alone, but by being here it brings something more to us. We come together because we want to."

Paul Symington said the PFV has seen many changes, "please remember how many families have sold their businesses and we're still here. The challenge we have is the same as others here - we have a burning desire to keep our businesses in the family."

Introducing the 1982 Mas La Plana vintage, Mireia Torres, general manager at Torres Priorat and Jean Leon wineries, said her family always strives to do more. "We never think it's good enough. We're always thinking we can do better."

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