SAN FRANCISCO, CA – February 18, 2025 – Symington Family Estates, a five-generation producer of world-renowned Ports, has announced the appointment of Rupert Symington as its new Chairman. Rupert previously served as CEO. Simultaneously, Head Winemaker Charles Symington and fifth-generation family member Rob Symington have been appointed co-CEOs. These transitions come as Johnny Symington, Chairman since 2019, retires after a distinguished 40-year career with the company.
Symington Family Estates has seen a great transformation over the last 40 years since Johnny joined the company. The family’s four historic port brands – Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s – have launched a remarkable series of premium products and designs aimed at strengthening relationships with existing consumers and attracting a new generation. The family began producing still wines in 1999 and, over the last 25 years, they have developed an exciting portfolio of wines produced from the Douro, Alentejo, and Vinho Verde regions in Portugal, and sparkling wine from Hampshire in the UK. The wine tourism side of the business has expanded too, particularly in the last few years under Johnny’s leadership. This includes opening two restaurants at the family’s Quinta do Bomfim estate in the Douro, a visitor center at Quinta da Fonte Souto in the Alentejo, and an exciting new project soon to be launched in downtown Porto.
“The past 40 years have been a time of incredible progress, innovation and growth. Our company has gone through several total transformations over the last few decades, which has enabled us to become more relevant and successful in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive market. What has impressed me most over the years are the people who make things happen. Despite the changing times, their motivation, adaptability and commitment have shaped our business for the better. Their resilience and courage through the covid pandemic was truly impressive. I’m filled with confidence in those that will succeed me and the future of our company. I’m certain that our long-standing legacy and reputation for quality and reliability will continue. We will maintain our ability to adapt to a world that may well change as much in the next 40 years as it has in the last 40.” – Johnny Symington.
About Symington Family Estates
The Symingtons of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent have been port producers in northern Portugal since 1882. For 5 generations they have combined their passion for producing fine wines and ports with a deep commitment to the region’s land and people. Today, ten Symingtons work across their four port houses: Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s, as well as their Douro wine brands – Quinta do Vesuvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano and Prats & Symington (of Chryseia fame). In 2017 they launched a new venture, Quinta da Fonte Souto, in the Alto Alentejo.
Symington Family Estates is a leading premium port producer and the leading owner of prime vineyards in the Douro valley, with 26 Quintas covering 2,233 hectares, with 1,076 hectares of vineyard. The family business is a founding member of Primum Familiae Vini – an association of 12 European wine families – and in 2020 was voted in 7th place in The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands list by a panel of over 200 international wine experts organized by Drinks International.
All Symington vineyards are sustainably managed under a minimum intervention certification and 130 ha are organically farmed – the largest area of organic vineyard in northern Portugal. The family have invested significantly in viticulture R&D to adapt to climate change and have an ambitious sustainability plan, with a series of public goals under the banner of Mission 2025. In 2019 the company became a certified B Corporation – the first wine company in Portugal to take this step – joining a global community of businesses audited for the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Symington was named Ethical Company of the Year in The Drinks Business 2019 Green Awards.
