Leading Port producer Charles Symington, head winemaker of Symington Family Estates, has assumed the role of President of the esteemed Primum Familiae Vini (PFV) for the term from July 2024 to June 2025, and has committed to exploring future technologies during his tenure.
Annually, PFV, which comprises 12 notable family wine producers, selects a representative to uphold their values and manage their activities.
Stewards of some of the most revered wine estates globally (including Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Drouhin, and Pol Roger), PFV operates on the belief that the issues facing family-owned enterprises are best tackled together, by sharing experiences and insights about the wine sector. Charles Symington, representing the fourth generation of Symington Family Estates, acknowledges this rich heritage of expertise. In his remarks concerning PFV’s selection, he expressed his “extreme honor” in being elected.
PFV’s new President is set on implementing change. His cousin, Paul Symington, communicates that the group is not rigidly adhering to traditions: “We in the PFV are not the old guard, we are the new guard.”
For Charles Symington, the transformation involves “the evaluation of Artificial Intelligence in viticulture and winemaking”—an initiative he intends to present to the technical committee soon. While the previous president, Véronique Drouhin, concentrated on addressing climate change impacts on the industry, Charles is now exploring the potentials of AI.
Several wineries have already integrated AI into their operations, whether its through vision-based technology in tractors in Napa Valley or advanced crop yield forecasts in South American vineyards. Symington Family Estates, which participates in the “VineScout” project featuring autonomous, electric-powered vineyard monitoring robots, is at the forefront of this innovation. It’s clear that PFV’s new President is eager to push the boundaries further.