TRAILBLAZER

Bringing sustainable practice to the world ’ s mountain vineyards

The family firm is a B Corp , the biggest vineyard owner in the Douro Valley , and a leading Portuguese wine producer

Along with the drinks design and sustainability experts Denomination , Symington is at the front of sustainability practice in the sector by sourcing 100 % recycled glass bottles and packaging stock for Cockburn ’ s , one of its bestknown brands .

Denomination ’ s Futureproof Programme finds gold-standard measure to apply at every stage of the supply chain . With Symington , for example , they are changing the association of quality with heavier glass to instead bring in lighter , recycled glass .

Symington ’ s commitment goes beyond packaging and into setting trends for global viticulture . The fifth generation of his family to work in port , he presides over estates including large operations as well as smaller , community growers in 26 properties and over a thousand hectares .

“ We are completely embedded and committed to the region ,” says Symington . “ It ' s a monoculture , the economy is grapes and wine , and we ' ve always been aware of the social responsibility that comes with the fact that we are one of the bigger economic players in the region .”

Prior to his return to the family business , Symington spent a decade in the United Kingdom helping build Escape the City ( ESC ) that ended up being one of the founding B Corps in the UK .

“ When I came back to join my family business , I was concerned that I might be stepping into a very old fashioned work environment , and one of the dealbreakers to leave my own business in the UK and go home to Portugal was , do they get it , do they understand the imperative of leading and taking responsibility in this area ?” says Symington . “ Fortunately , they did .”

Symington took a determination to bring sustainability with him when he came home to the Douro Valley .

After pitching B Corp certification internally , he was pleasantly surprised to

18 March 2022