Founded in 1385, Antinori today is run by the family descendants of the 26th generation and the 27th is ready in the starting blocks. The family business has an impressive history and many stories to tell. Allegra Antinori gives us interesting insights of how the company has become what it is today: the embodiment of Italy’s passion for wine.
Dear Mrs. Antinori, you are running your family business together with your sisters Albiera and Alessia already in the 26th generation. That is a very impressive age for a family business and a great example for one of the key characteristics of successful family businesses: longevity. How have you and your sisters been introduced to the business and the family traditions? Which are the family’s principles and guidelines related to the administration and management of the company shaped and passed on for generations?
The first Antinori who produced wine, Giovanni di Piero Antinori, started in 1385, when he registered his craft in the association of winemakers in Florence. Since then the business was passed on for generations. Starting with the generation of my great-grandfathers and my grandfather the business was getting more structured. The production was moved to San Casciano in Val di Pesa and they started trying to produce new wines. For example, my great-grandfather liked French champagne so much that he hired a French champagne expert to produce Italian sparkling wine. Then, when my father Piero took over the business it changed completely. At this time, it was usual that the businessmen and owners of the land gave the territories to farmers who cultivated the grapes. In the 60s of the last century this system changed, so the owner families needed to decide whether to invest in new forms of cultivation or use the territory for other purposes. Before, the agricultural cultivation of the territory was practiced in traditional ways without any concept of efficiency. Also my father Piero had to decide whether to invest or quit. He would also have had other opportunities, because during those days our family was running other small businesses too. But my father decided to continue the winegrowing evolving into in a modern, professional winery. He set the course for where we are today. My father took 3 crucial decisions that determined the company’s future success.
- He developed a new concept for a modern, professional company .
- After his brother’s decision to leave the company, his shares were sold to an English listed group who invested a lot in growth. During that period, my father was focused completely on the production. He developed new wines of highest quality and gave a major contribution to the development of the “Super Tuscans” category thanks to Tignanello.
- In the 80s, 90s and the first years after 2000, we believed and invested in vineyards in Tuscany and other highly vocated wine areas in Italy. And even more importantly, in the early 90s my father was able to re-buy 100% of the company shares. So, finally, Antinori was 100% in the possession of our family again.
The 90s were also the years when I and my two sisters Albiera and Alessia entered the business, which at the time was run by my father and his right-hand Renzo Cotarella, who today is the company’s Chief winemaker and CEO. We three sisters entered at the age of 18. We were working in every section of the company and learned our profession and developed our skills by doing. This was very important because we got to know every little spot of our company and were able to understand the dynamics of our business. Today every one of us is responsible for an area of the company and we have institutional and representative tasks as well. From the beginning we travelled a lot all around the world to promote and represent our family business and our wines.
As already mentioned, during the last three decades, we invested in different vocated wine areas in Italy. Each estate has its own identity, which creates an additional benefit for our wines. Today in Italy we have 14 estates, each single one with their individual structure and in total 448 employees.
Another highlight was the inauguration of our new winery and headquarter Antinori nel Chianti Classico in San Casciano in Val di Pesa in 2012. The new winery is open for public visitors and is part of our branding strategy to increase the awareness of the name Antinori. So far we have been known particularly for our wine brands like Solaia or Tignanello.
To summarize, the passion for wine is part of our family’s DNA. The long history and achievements of our ancestors fill us with proud, motivation and responsibility. Furthermore, we are aware that our father has suffered to bring the company to where it is today. It has taught us that suffering brings passion. Those are the things that we as family members carry on our shoulders. And we do it with joy.
An important principle of most successful family businesses is that the survival of the company is more important than the personal wealth. This means that the members of the entrepreneurial family often must forego financial compensations for the well-being of the company. Do you agree with that principle? Which financial principles do you follow in your corporate management?
It is very important for us to constantly strengthen the financial solidity of our company. That is why we do not distribute dividends, but leave our profits in the company. The family members are always at the service of the company, personal wealth is secondary. The most important principle for us is to support the long-term survival of our family business. To guarantee longevity of our company for our descendants, we established a family trust. After many discussions within the family it seemed the best solution for my father, my sisters and me. In this way we prevent the company from being financially extracted and furthermore we avoid conflicts within the family. The beneficiary of the trust today is my father Piero. Beneficiaries of the coming generations should always be family members working in the company. It is our wish that our family is always present in our business.
Has the company ever had the risk of failing?
Not in the last two generations. There were many difficult times and periods when my father and grandfathers were thinking about quitting. One of those difficult moments was when my uncle decided to leave the family business and my father couldn’t afford to buy his shares out. That was when an external shareholder entered our company. So I can say that we had several periods of anxiety and difficulties and my father had to take many risks, especially when he created new wines. But also during those times, the company has always been healthy and solid. And of course we often had the luck of the brave and the bold.
How do you regulate the succession?
Competence is more important than being a family member. Family members who want to have management roles must be fit and prepared for their task. A family member who aims to be CEO must fulfill the following conditions:
- A final study degree,
- worked successfully somewhere else,
- accepted as CEO from cousins, management and trustees.
The successors who are considered for management positions are being followed and evaluated for years before the family and trustees take a decision about their future position. One of our principles is that every family member gets financial benefits, but those working in the company get higher benefits.
To conclude, what are your tips and advice for other family businesses and entrepreneurial families who are aiming for longevity?
- Always have an external sparring partner you can turn to.
- Think first about the company, then about yourself.
- Be conscious about the privilege and fortune that you have because you were given something.
- Don’t put your ego in front.
- Share your thoughts and ideas within the family on a regular basis.
- Be passionate about what you do.
- Have a long-term vision.
- Know every detail of your company.
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