Interview
Pierre-Henry
Gagey
Louis Jadot
Louis
Jadot is one of the most well-known houses in Burgundy. Louis
Jadot is famous for the quality and the regularity of its
wines. Louis Jadot provides a wide range of Burgundy wines
able to satisfy all wine lovers. A good opportunity to meet
Louis Jadot chairman, Pierre-Henry Gagey.
You
followed after your father André Gagey at Louis Jadot's
head about a dozen of years ago, what did he bring to you?
I joined
Louis Jadot in 1985. My studies and professional life were
completely outside of the wine business. In fact, it brought
me great advantages and allowed me to develop a vision very
different from the world of wine and a more open-minded spirit.
My father,
who managed Louis Jadot since 1962 taught me almost everything
about wine. He played an essential role in the life of Louis
Jadot because the spirit of Louis Jadot's house was created
around him and nowadays the same spirit still prevails.
And what have you brought yourself that was different?
My goal
from the first beginning was very clear: continue and try
to improve the model which had been set up by three generations
of Jadot then by my father. This model worked perfectly well.
Quality first. One brand. Only one label. An idea to reasonably
grow without putting first quantity or profit instead of quality.
When I
joined Louis Jadot, my father worked with a senior accountant
and with Jacques Lardière as technical manager. That's
all. We then tried to set up a team in order to prevent Louis
Jadot from relying only on two persons, as qualified as they
may be. Today, it is the team behind Louis Jadot that is the
important asset and is enabling us to develop harmoniously
throughout the world.
Louis Jadot is currently owned by an American family
(the Kopf family) who are your US importer through Korbrand.
What are the benefits and what do you expect in the future?
Louis
Jadot has the chance to be a family company which belonged
to the Jadot family between 1859 and 1985 and which was bought
by the Kopf family. Actually three American sisters. It was
at the time when I joined my father. It is a great chance
for us because our shareholders are in love with Burgundy
and have always wanted to give to Louis Jadot the means to
express great quality wines with no compromise. Louis Jadot
would not be what it is today without these shareholders,
either Jadot or Kopf. They are always listening to our needs
and are very proud to produce the best possible wine.
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more
Pierre-Henry Gagey
Louis Jadot