Paul Symington of Symington Family Wines has been named as Decanter’s Man of the Year 2012. This prestigious accolade has been making headlines since 1984 and has included some of the biggest names in wine, including the 2001 winner Jean-Claude Rouzaud of Louis Roederer. Symington’s Family Wines is famous for a number of port brands including Dow’s and Graham’s and Blandy’s Madeira.

Paul heads the Symington estates with his cousins Johnny and Rupert. Paul feels he was ‘predestined’ for his role at the helm but only accepts the accolade on behalf of the family. “It’s a family award, which I’m very happy to accept – but only on behalf of everybody.”

Paul added “This award is entirely due to our people at Symington Family Estates, from the vineyard and winery teams to the lodgemen, the coopers, the bottling teams and all the office staff and managers, and, of course to my family, including my brother Dominic and my three cousins Johnny, Rupert and Charles who work with me… I would also like to recognise the immense contribution made by my father and uncles, they believed in Port and the Douro in the 1940’s and 1950’s when so many others thought that there was no future for our region.”

Described by Steven Spurrier as ‘inspirational’ and by Marchese Piero Antinori as the ‘trustworthy descendent of a great dynasty’. Paul is very passionate about his homeland and in particular the Duoro where he will live permanently on his retirement.

The Symington Family is a member of the Primum Familiae Vini (PFV) which translates to “First/best families of the wine” in Latin. Eleven families make up this prestigious association and again recognises the Symington Family as one of top wine brands in the world.

EuroVintage are proud to have three members of PFV in its portfolio. Alongside Symington’s, EuroVintage are the distributors for Spanish heavyweight Torres and Burgundy producer Maison Joseph Drouhin.