Vincenzo Poerio is undoubtedly one of the main protagonists of the Italian nautical industry. before, rod CEO of the shipyard – which specializes in building megayachts – who has launched some of the most iconic jewels of the sea and is currently sailing the world’s oceans. But above all, his greatest achievement is to apply his extensive experience in quality and work ethic to realize another ambitious dream. This time not at sea, but on the terraces of the Tuscan hills.
Vincent Poriot
“I wanted to build a place where you could live and work, produce wine, oil and other rural products,” recalls the former CEO. benetti yacht. “A project born from the meeting of four visionary friends took shape in Sarteano, in the province of Siena, among the rolling hills of the Val di Chiana.”
Here, the Poerio family works in a beautifully restored ancient farmhouse, surrounded by ancient Sangiovese vines that produce the famous Chianti Riserva Bludivigna flowers. Poggio Mori Farm. A dream come true. Another life followed: the production of high-quality and organic wines. So, in addition to the ancient Sangiovese line, the nautical creation and design manager introduced Bordeaux vines in the name of sustainability and commitment to the environment. From sea to land. From water to wine. Each stage of Vincenzo Poerio’s career follows one main path: total attention to detail and an almost frenzied attention to aesthetic and luxury-related aspects.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
You are considered one of the top managers in the Italian boating industry, how was your passion for the sea and boats born?
Vincent Poriot
I’m from Neapolitan, so the sea has always been a part of my life. Boats have been my passion since I was a kid. I entered the Institute of Nautical Technology with dreams of becoming a sea captain, although I continued my studies, graduating in Mechanical Engineering and becoming a Naval Fellow. I started building them myself in 1993 after a few stints building large boats. I took the historic Benetti brand back into my hands, revalued it in the market and brought it to a turnover close to 1 billion euros.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
You specialize in mega yachts over 30 meters, who can afford these boats?
Vincent Poriot
Obviously, the buyer is someone with almost unlimited wealth. We refer to thousands of people around the world, and at most tens of thousands of people. Some are in Europe and the United States; most are in Asia and the Middle East. For these ultra-wealthy buyers, contract values range from 25-30 million to over 400 million euros. The largest yacht I’ve ever built is 180 meters, which is basically the equivalent of two football fields.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
From boats, to clothes, to furniture, your extreme attention to luxury is well known. How would you define the word?.
Vincent Poriot
Some product wealth has to be evident and communicated through every detail. It is this quest for absolute perfection that sets luxury apart. Unlike real estate, however, the biggest problem on board is resolving the conflicts that arise from trying to make this luxury coexist with technology, in a space that is still limited, even in the range of 200 square meters to over 3000 square meters . This is a challenge that only the best architects can solve. The interiors of these yachts are among the most beautiful you can imagine, as a yacht of a certain size is the most expensive luxury in the world.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Does Italian style still triumph when we’re talking about these marine jewels?.
Vincent Poriot
Italian style is always a winner in the world. Unfortunately, unlike what the French do, for example, it is difficult for us to join forces to promote our brand overseas like they deserve. This is not good for us, especially in the East and emerging markets. I travel a lot abroad, and it can be said that Italy is still the most glamorous place in the world, the land of beauty and goodness, in the eyes of the common man.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
You expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Department of the Sea. Why? What do you expect from this institution?.
Vincent Poriot
It is important to emphasize the protection of the ocean, including the protection of the ocean economy. Hopefully this department will explain not only sea transport, shipping, port and cruise business, but also aquaculture, marine biology and everything related to our Mediterranean activities. Much has been done on sustainability, but much remains to be done. If once, the only thing that mattered to a company was profit, today we can say that the real turning point will come when we can find the perfect balance between economic, social and environmental factors, the three The factors need to be in perfect symbiosis.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
From sea to land, your Poggio Mori farm is the best of the Tuscan mountains. Where did your passion for wine come from?.
Vincent Poriot
It is a passion inherited from my father who was in the wine trade. However, it was only when I moved to Tuscany that I decided to make it a job too. Hence the idea to buy and restore an old farmhouse surrounded by over 40 years old vineyards. Thanks to visionary friends like me, dreams come true…
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
How to make good wine?.
Vincent Poriot
The same attention to detail goes into the production of the 40 meter luxury yacht. Because even as products change, the secret to excellence remains the same…
This article is reproduced from Homes & Estates Italy magazine.
