Primum Familiae Vini appoints de Billy as president

Hubert de Billy, head of Champagne Pol Roger, has been appointed president of the Primum Familiae Vini.

Hubert de Billy of Pol Roger. Credit: Colin Hampden-White

It is de Billy’s third term as president of the collection of family-owned estates which includes Torres, Symington Family Estates, Vega Sicilia and Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

He takes over from Jean-Frédéric Hugel. In a long statement he stressed the importance of continuing to adapt to new challenges in a changing world – highlighted by the recent acquisition of one of Spain’s leading family companies, Freixenet, by Henkell.

He said: “I am now starting my third term as president and I am proud of all we have done together showing the world that wine is not just a product or even a business. The family dimension shows us wine is values!

“Time is flying and the world is changing. Generations are passing and PFV must keep going and adapting to new challenges and so we can be stronger together.

“The structure of the companies that make up the Primum Familiae Vini, a family structure by definition, is what we know and have long mastered. Our companies have a total of 2,388 years of experience; for us, more than ever, the family means sustainability and, therefore, the safeguarding of values without which it is impossible to produce great wines and preserve our common heritage. In this we remain symbols, and models, for the world of Wine and perhaps even beyond.

“We have decided to audit ourselves and look into what has been done in the past, to understand the very meaning of PFV for each and every member. We are determined to look forward to be able to say clearly where we would like to be in 10, 20 or 30 years and even more.

“New ideas, new tools and new events. Many things will be decided in the near future to take PFV to the next level and make it better known, better understood and more attractive to all our friends and wine-lovers around the world.”