327: What do Famille Perrin, Torres and Gaja Wines Have in Common that Makes Them Uncommon? Fiona Morrison Goes Behind the Scenes of These Family Businesses

What is unique about Famille Perrin in France's approach to running their family wine business? How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace? How has the Gaja family of Italy made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community? What is unique about Famille Perrin in France's approach to running their family wine business?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Fiona Morrison.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

 

Giveaway

Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, 10 Great Wine Families: A Tour Through Europe. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted a review of the podcast. I’ll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

 

Highlights

How did the Frescobaldi family make a massive impact on the arts in their transition from banking to wine?

What were the Frescobaldi family's connections to famous figures like Dante Alighieri and Galileo?

How has Angelo Gaja and the Gaja family made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community?

Why is the Liger-Belair family’s vineyard often known as the greatest in the world?

What is unique about the Famille Perrin's approach to running their family wine business?

How has Álvaro Palacios proven Garnacha’s place as the climate change grape?

How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace?

Do these families view their wines as luxury goods?

 

Key Takeaways

How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace?

Simplicity and being true to their roots are two key factors Fiona points out. The labels have become much cleaner and are much more sober these days than they were in the past. The Torres family of Spain have done huge amounts on climate change and carbon neutrality and regeneration. In fact, they are, once again, this year, the most admired wine brand. I think it's very important to show that you're paying your dues and you're doing research. It shows how much they are rooted in their heritage and their history.

How has the Gaja family of Italy made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community?

If you want to go and taste a Gaja, you need to make a contribution of 300 euros to their various charities they support. Piemonte is still quite a poor region, and so they want to give back to the community and to the area what they can. Of course, people who drink Gaya wines, which are very expensive, can afford to give a charity donation. It's quite unusual, but I think it's a good solution for them.

What is unique about Famille Perrin in France's approach to running their family wine business?

There are seven or eight children from the two brothers, Francois and Jean Pierre. Every single one of them has a job in the winery, with each handling a different aspect of the business. This solidarity between so many children, working together, laughing together, tasting together. This is a blueprint for how to run a family business.

 

About Fiona Morrison MW

Fiona Morrison is an international Master of Wine, author, writer and wine merchant who lives in Belgium and Bordeaux and holds both British and Belgian nationalities. She became a Master of Wine in 1994 after studying in America and France. Fiona is married to Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin and currently runs the Thienpont family wine merchant business in Belgium and France. The family owns three estates on Bordeaux's right bank: Le Pin (Pomerol), L'IF (St Emilion) and L'Hêtre (Castillon). Winner of several awards for her writing, including the James Beard Award, her latest book, "10 Great Wine Families", has been published internationally.

 

 

 

 

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/327.