BASQUE LUXURY
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Basque Luxury had an exclusive interview with Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, whose visionary approach has managed to perpetuate a centuries-old legacy. Her initiatives come to life through the Edmond de Rothschild Group and Edmond de Rothschild Heritage, in whose strategies the Basque Country is prominently present. Examples of that are the Macán Winery and the Palacio de Samaniego Hotel in the Rioja Alavesa region, true icons of luxury in the territory. We talked to her about art, heritage, lifestyle, and family.
You are the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, a private banking and investment entity with a long history of over 250 years. What is it like to run the business in the highly volatile environment that we have had to experience in recent years, with the pandemic and – more recently – the war in Ukraine?
The geopolitical and economic situation we are experiencing today is complex: war in Europe, loss of energy sovereignty, inflation, rising interest rates, markets at half-mast, prospects of recession… All this contributes to what some observers call a “perfect storm”. It is in these situations that our responsibility is greatest. The current situation is pushing us to accelerate in segments that we had already identified as meaningful and performing for our clients in the long term. For more than fifteen years, our investments and financial products have responded to what we anticipate to be the major environmental, social and demographic challenges in Europe and around the world. We should not only evaluate an investment on its financial performance, but also on what it brings to society. The context urges us to maintain our strategic course with long-term vision which favours sustainability and investments with positive impact in the real economy.
Throughout history, the Rothschild family has invested in such fundamental moments as the industrial revolution, financing and acquiring shares in sectors such as metallurgy, coal and railways. What sectors would the group like to invest in over the next few years?
Our family has always been involved in the transformation and development of economies. As examples, in 1837, James de Rothschild was the anchor investor of the first railway company called “La Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du Nord”. Around the same time Lionel de Rothschild, helped finance the Suez Canal, which fundamentally changed trade routes between Asia and Europe. Today, I have the same vision of what an investment should be. It should be impactful coupled with long-term value creation. Therefore we have been investing in infrastructure, energy transition, soil depollution, agritech, upcycling of real estate.
You are also in charge of Edmond de Rothschild Heritage, a group with a worldwide presence that focuses mainly on three specific sectors: wine, hotels and nature. What can you tell us about this large conglomerate and the activities carried out in each of these sectors?
Edmond de Rothschild Heritage brings together our lifestyle businesses. These activities are part of the coherence of our ecosystem: they anchor us in the real economy. It’s a diversified legacy that Benjamin inherited and that it’s up to us to modernize and make profitable in order to pass it on to our children. Like everything we do, we go to the end of the process. It is essential to perpetuate my family’s century-old know-how while taking care to renew it, pushing the limits of innovation and excellence to offer new experiences to our clients.
In the wine sector, we are working to constantly improve the quality of our French and foreign productions with recognised experts such as Eric Boissenot. In addition to the acquisitions we are making abroad, such as the recent acquisition of the Akarua property in Central Otago, New Zealand, we remain focused on our French estates, with the objective of enhancing our full potential, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. At Château Clarke, 50 years after my father-in-law Edmond acquired the estate in 1973, we are completing the 3-year refurbishment of the technical buildings, to help bring Château Clarke up to the level of the greatest Médoc wines.
In hospitality in France, our activities are based on a strong partnership between the Four Seasons and our family, bringing a new approach to the luxury hotel business. Our partner’s international standards of excellence are combined with our values and history in order to offer a unique experience.
In Spain, we are pleased to propose the same level of experience, this time on our own, in a different form, at the Palacio de Samaniego in Rioja Alavesa.
In farming, at the Trente Arpents Farm, after inaugurating our methanisation unit last year, we have initiated many projects that are in line with an eco-responsible logic: the multiplication of beehives to encourage pollination, the creation of new Briard recipes to ensure the transmission of local know-how and the reinforcement of sustainable agriculture that limits fertilisers and favours the sanitary conditions of our herd.
In 2017, you acquired the Palacio de Samaniego, in Rioja Alavesa, with the aim of offering a unique hotel experience in the region. Today, the said establishment is a leader in the luxury sector.
With the Palacio de Samaniego, I wanted to offer a new experience, inspired by my family’s way of life, to add beauty and elegance to this historic house and to give a new dimension to wine tourism in the Rioja Alavesa.
The hotel also has a gastronomic restaurant that offers Basque-French cuisine. Is this a formula that brings together the best of each region?
Gastronomy unites and creates bridges between people and cultures. Tierra y Vino acts as a link between the Basque territory and French know-how, precise and meticulous: the experience is unique and astonishing, with respect for the local products and the wines served…
The hundred or so works of art from your private collection on display in the common areas and rooms of the palace are worth a look. Why did you want to exhibit your pieces in the hotel? How important is art in your life?
Art is totally embedded the Rothschild DNA. Since the 19th century, the Rothschild family has stood out for its visionary approach to cultural patronage by supporting illustrious artists of the time. For me, Art is alive. It must be visible, accessible and shared with as many people as possible.
Do you plan to develop new projects related to the Basque Country?
For the moment I would like to see the sustainability of the projects undertaken in the Basque Country with economic solidity. The important thing is to gather the experience of the clients and their impressions, which will allow us to adjust our vision and envisage the future.
What is luxury for you?
Simplicity and authenticity.
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