▻ How Family Equals Sustainability
![▴ The 12 Primum Familiae Vini (PVF) [photo by Michael Boudot]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb9703829c7c928b1ff4acb/1614181457490-96IE8WCKICIK0YDPKT3C/12-PVF-Members)
▴ The 12 Primum Familiae Vini (PVF) [photo by Michael Boudot]
In conversation with Paul Symington
Episode Summary:-
Jane Anson talks to Paul Symington of Symington Ports and Chairman of Primum Familiae Vini (PVF), an association of 12 of the world’s most historic wine producers. They have just launched the PVF Prize, an annual award of 100,000 Euros, to a family company in any area of enterprise that demonstrates excellence in sustainability, innovation, craftsmanship and the successful transmission of responsibility and commitment from one generation to the next.
Jane and Paul discuss the challenges family businesses face in an increasingly corporate world, and Paul reveals the five companies that have made the shortlist. Surprisingly, none of them are in wine.
““We are not obsessed with the past, but we certainly look around us and see how many family companies have actually gone – been sold or family rows””
Running Order:-
-
0.00 – 7.17
“I’m slightly disappointed that in our final shortlist there is not a single wine company; we didn’t set out to do non-wine”
Paul tells how the original impetus in creating the PFV was a discussion between Robert Drouhin and Miguel Torres about succession, and how a family company could sell its wines in a market which was increasingly globalised, dominated by giant distribution companies and large corporate wine producers. He explains why they launched the prize, which has nothing to do with wine, but rather about how they are “really obsessed with the continuity of family businesses,” and want to champion artisanal family businesses that are continuing through numerous challenges. -
7.18 – 21.29
Paul talks about the five companies which are shortlisted from the hundreds of applicants from around the world, including a walking-stick manufacturer in the Basque region of France, the Goring Hotel in London, a pottery manufacturer in Japan, a luthier shop in Belgium which makes and repairs historic musical instruments, and a family business in Florence which produces gold leaf. He reveals he still hasn’t decided who to vote for, and promises to let The Wine Conversation know the winner when it is announced in March.
The Jury:-
The Selection Jury for the PVF Short List and the PFV Prize will be one member of each of the twelve PFV wine families:
Tenuta San Guido, Marchesi Antinori, Egon Müller Scharzhof, Domaine Clarence Dillon, Famille Perrin, Symington Family Estates, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Familia Torres, Famille Hugel, Vega Sicilia, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Champagne Pol Roger.
The Shortlist:-
France – Makhila Ainciart Bergara: A sixth-generation family business and producer of exquisite handmade walking sticks in the Basque region of southwest France since 1780. The family have made walking sticks for Pope John Paul II, President Ronald Reagan, Charlie Chaplin, each French President of the 5th Republic, and the seven Heads of State attending the G7 meeting in Biarritz 2018. www.makhila.com
Japan – ဂ䄓ਥ垎 (Chin Jukan Kiln): A 14th-generation family business and producer of Satsuma yaki kiln-fired pottery in Kagoshima since 1876. The family, originally from Korea, have been ceramicists in Japan since 1623 with family records dating back 26 generations. They have won numerous international prizes for the beauty of their products. www.chin-jukan.co.jp
Italy – Giusto Manetti Battiloro: A 15th-generation family business and producer of gold-leaf in Florence since 1582. Matteo Manetti worked with Michelangelo at St. Peter’s in Rome in the late 16th century and created the golden globe that sits atop the cathedral. In 1602, Matteo restored the magnificent globe that crowns Florence’s Santa Maria del Fiore which had been damaged by lightning. The same orb on the Duomo was restored by Matteo’s descendants in 2002. This company is now world leader in the production of gold leaf and its products adorn prestigious monuments in Paris, New York, London and Moscow. www.manetti.com
United Kingdom – The Goring Hotel: The only luxury hotel in London still in the hands of the founding family. Established in 1910 by Otto Goring, the hotel is managed by the fourth generation and holds a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty the Queen. They have an exemplary record for helping the poor in the local community as well as managing one of London’s greatest hotels. www.thegoring.com
Belgium – Maison Bernard: Established in the second half of the 19th century, it is the oldest luthier shop (maker of stringed musical instruments) in Europe. The family business takes care of the beautiful historical instruments still left to us, produces new instruments while also servicing the violins, violas, cellos and their bows for some of the world's greatest musicians. Maison Bernard recently restored a 1723 Stradivarius violin for future generations to enjoy. www.maison-bernard.com
“‘’We had many applicants from around the world and selection was difficult but ultimately the jury felt that Maison Bernard is a brilliant example of exquisite handicraft and the maintenance of an ancient artisanal tradition in family hands, exactly as we fight to sustain our own family enterprises.””
The Winner (announced Mon 2nd March):-
The Primum Familiae Vini are pleased to announce that a jury formed of one member of each of its twelve wine-making families has selected Maison Bernard in Brussels, Europe’s oldest luthier workshop, as the winner of the €100,000 PFV Prize of 2021.
Maison Bernard is a world-renowned maker and repairer of violins and is managed by father and son Jan and Matthijs Strick, both famed for their extraordinary knowledge and craftsmanship. Maison Bernard has recently been entrusted with the repair of an almost priceless Stradivarius from 1732.
Jan is an international authority on the Flemish school of violin making of the 17th and 18th centuries and this award will facilitate Jan’s publication of his book on violins of this period and will finance Matthijs’s travel to Chicago to gain experience with one of the world’s finest violin shops, as well as helping to guarantee the future of this wonderful family enterprise.
Under the ‘Family is Sustainability’ motto – together with their long histories and the fame of their wines – the PFV aim to encourage independent family-owned companies to continue their projects and to incentivize product excellence, generational succession, social responsibility and sustainability. These values are paramount to the twelve winemaking PFV members.
▴ Maison Bernard, Winner of the 2021 PFV 'Family is sustainability' Prize
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