Adam Brett-Smith is managing director at one of the world?s most prestigious wine merchants, Corney & Barrow. The firm has unique and exclusive relationships with the world?s greatest wine producers including Chateau Petrus, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, and Salon champagne. As part of our Luxury Leader series, he speaks to LUX about the evolving market, wine investors, and the world?s thriving wine culture.
Adam Brett-Smith
LUX: You represent the most prestigious domaines in the world, including DRC, Petrus and Salon . What is your secret"
Adam Brett-Smith: Belief. Belief in the producer and your ability to communicate that belief to the customer; truly, that is the heart of the matter.
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ABS: We try to take a Chateau or Domaine out of the big basket of other Chateaux or Domaines and put it on a pedestal so that customers can focus with an intensity and purity that general distribution cannot offer. Therefore, it is vital that you try and work with the finest examples of whatever country/region/area you are focussing on. We would prefer to be an inch wide and five miles deep than five miles wide and an inch deep.
As to where the balance of power lies, our best relationships ? like the best deals ? are equally good for all parties concerned, the customer, the Estate and Corney & Barrow. If th...