Simon Farr, along with Michael Saunders and Ben Collins (no, not the racing driver recently unmasked as Top Gear's Stig), started wine importers, Bibendum, in the early 1980's in a disused petrol station! Their intention was to sell lots of 'funky unusual stuff' alongside more traditional wines directly to customers. In the (nearly) 30 years between then and now, Bibendum has grown into one of (if not the) biggest wine importer in the UK with a turnover of £120million per year.
I met with him, by chance, when he popped into my shop in St Andrews and although he may run one of the biggest wine importers in the UK, he was a very friendly, unassuming, gentleman, with a real passion for wine. The Tasting Note asked him six questions...
What got you into the wine trade?
Parents of a friend from school bought a very run down chateau in an equally run down part of Bordeaux and invited me to a party. It turned out to be a subtle press ganging of friends and acquaintances to pick their first crop! This was 1972. For vinous historians amongst you, this was around the time of the famous Cruz / Beart scandal – they were caught doing what was widely practised - “beefing” up the local wine with wines from further south, in fact often so much further south that they had to cross the Med on their way to Bordelaise vats. The significance of this was that Bordeaux was enjoying a great boom after the difficult years of the late 60’s, thanks to the 1970 vintage. So successful was the 1970 campaign that the Bordelaise repeated the trick with the less good 1971, and then went for the hat trick with the decidedly damp squib of 1972. Once the market, which by now was up to the rafters in stock, got wind of the scandal the market crashed. The next few years were characterised by tumbleweed bowling down the Quais de Chartrons rather than new Mercedes. Back to the point; my friends had done all their sums based on the heady market in which they acquired their chateau. By the time the first vintage was picked they realised they were in for a long slog. I slogged along with them for three years.
Where does you vinous heart lie?
Small producers that push the limits.
What is next for Simon Farr?
Even through its nearly 30 years since I started Bibendum, I am constantly amazed at how interesting and different the company continues to be. Essentially, that is mostly down to hiring the smartest, noisiest and most passionate people we can. Also, the wine world is changing. I think we entering a value over volume era after the pre-recession madness of volume over value. Wine should be a good deal better as a result. Also, the renaissance of the independent wine merchant is a very welcome phenomenon.
If you could drink one wine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I don’t think I would want to live very long with only one wine!
Aside from wine, what is your favourite drink?
Water – so underrated, but rarely good!
Name three people, real or fictional, living or dead, that would be your dream dinner party guests and what would you be drinking?
Warren Buffet – anyone that rich who gives it all away and doesn’t want his name above the door is my kind of guy. Also, I love people that are successful but keep it simple. Miles Davis – cool doesn’t get close. Pranav Mistry – a young guy with a game changing idea (look him up on TED). Warren would have Cherry Coke, Miles a Martini, Pranav would surprise me, and (to end on a pretentious note) I would hog a bottle of Vieux Chateau Certan 1928!
Comments
You some up the croft perfectly.