Ties that bind: exploring the dynamics of transgenerational entrepreneurship in family-owned wineries

PurposeThis study aims to clarify the determinants that lead companies in the wine sector to transgenerational entrepreneurship, considering four dimensions: family, entrepreneur profile, innovation and internationalization.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology will be an inductive qualitative methods methodology, through semistructured interviews, with seven case studies of wine sector enterprises in rural areas.FindingsThe results show that for a company to survive for several generations, it is necessary for them to be entrepreneurial and take advantage of all resources, including those that only families can provide, such as traditions, values and teachings. This sharing of knowledge, as well as the involvement of various family members in daily tasks, allows the creation of a feeling of passion, which makes the younger generations want to preserve all the material and immaterial heritage that is passed down to them. According to the results obtained, the family is also a source of support in decision-making and the growing taste for the family business influences the entrepreneurs’ choice of academic path. It was also found that companies continue to undertake, innovating at various levels. Entrepreneurs have several motivations to internationalize the company, also as a source of innovation and as part of the company’s strategy to reach new markets.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a better understanding of the factors that lead family businesses to entrepreneurship, mainly allied to innovation, in a sector characterized by tradition and family culture.