Symington Family Estates | Sustainability Report 22-23

Universe i. Water ii. Air iii. Earth iv. Fire v. Alchemy vi.

Letter from the family

Our family has produced wine in the Douro Valley for over 140 years, with a strong commitment to the local community and the beautiful environment. Our actions are guided by three fundamental principles that are ingrained in our DNA: a deep love for the Douro region, the forging of resilient relationships, and an unwavering long-term mindset. Each of these principles stem from our deep connection to the land and its thriving communities.

When we plant new vineyards, we have to wait at least five years for the fruit to reach the quality required to make great wines. Everything we do is one way or another geared towards the future, and we are ever conscious that the decisions we make today will affect the reality our descendants will face tomorrow.

We understand the gravity of the threats and challenges that confront us, both environmental and social. It is a great privilege to be part of a family business that works ambitiously to respond to these challenges with all the resources and tools at our disposal.

In the 20th century, the definition of success for a business was to create a product or service of value, make money and to satisfy shareholders. I believe that the reality in which we operate in the 21st century has fundamentally shifted. Defining success in business nowadays entails far more widereaching considerations, including an understanding of the impact on the environment in which one operates as well as the impacts of stakeholders throughout the value chain.

For us, it has comprehensively changed the way we understand what success means for a business, what KPIs we measure, and not just financial but also social and environmental metrics. This has also made us more open to areas of innovation that can benefit us in the market by being more in tune with consumer aspirations and expectations. Naturally, this has motivated us to review all aspects of our business, from vineyard to bottle and the final route to market. It has broadened our mindset in terms of how we think about growing and developing our business.

This is a fantastic place to work, surrounded by heritage, tradition and history, but with a mindset of innovation and sustainability. We are focused on the challenges that we face over the coming decades, be they environmental, social or financial.

In this UNIVERSE section of the report, several family members provide some context regarding who we are and where we stand going forward. A brief overview is also provided of our roadmap to sustainability in relation to top-level governance, including the materiality of our impacts and our midterm goals. To make a difference, we must lead by example, not least to show our firm commitment to the people and the regions where we work.

Our Mission

We exist to produce exceptional ports, wines & wine tourism experiences that celebrate and preserve the uniqueness of Portugal and contribute to a positive future for the regions where we work.

Our Vision

We are committed to passing on a stronger, more sustainable, independent family wine company than the one that was entrusted to us.

Our Values

Respect

Leadership

Passion

Excellence

Stewardship

Our Ports

Our Wines

About

Symington EstatesFamily

We have made the Douro Valley our home for 140 years, and our strong connection to this land has always been manifest in the passion and craftsmanship we bring to our winemaking.

i. Universe i.ii. About Symington Family Estates

140 Years of history

3 Wine regions (Douro, Alentejo, Monção e Melgaço)

~630 Employees

1.

1. 4th generation –Rupert, Paul, Johnny, Charles and Dominic, at Quinta do Bomfim.

2. 5th generation of working family members

– Rob, Harry, Vicky, Charlotte, Tom, Teresa, Anthony and Hugh, at Quinta do Bomfim.

9 Family vineyards

2 Bottling plants

4 port brands 8 still wine brands 2 sparkling wine brands

2543 hectares of Land

1195 hectares of Vineyard

~2400 Customers

~10.65M Liters Port ageing in casks

~16 000 Casks

Third-party audits

We are a family of British and Portuguese descent that has lived and worked in Portugal since 1882. Our family business – managed by the 4th and 5th generations - is founded on a deep commitment to Portugal's people, its lands, and its wines. Today there are 11 family members working across the business, committed to producing the finest ports and wines and building on the achievements of the previous generations.

We own and run four of the leading port houses, Graham's, Dow's, Warre's, and Cockburn's, as well as a portfolio of Douro wines consisting of Quinta do Vesúvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano, and Prats & Symington (of Chryseia fame) - a partnership with the Prats family of

~ 2M Sales cases 9L

3 Own distributors

32% Volume market share on premium port categories

4 Visitor centers

103M€ SFE Turnover

0,8M€ SFE R&D investment

Bordeaux. We also produce wine at our Quinta da Fonte Souto in the Alto Alentejo and Casa de Rodas in the subregion of Monção & Melgaço in the Vinho Verde DOC. Furthermore, we produce sparkling wines under two joint ventures in both Portugal (Vértice, arguably the finest name in Portugal) and the UK (Hambledon Vineyard, one of the leading English producers).

We are committed to an ambitious sustainability strategy, including end-to-end carbon emissions reductions, pioneering R&D to adapt to climate change in the vineyard, and a range of social and environmental initiatives in the regions where we work.

Love for

the Douro

Guided by our principles — love for the Douro, nurturing relationships, and a long-term perspective — we honour the region. We produce exceptional wines while preserving the Douro's charm, fostering genuine connections, and using our business for the region's preservation.

To the family, the Douro represents our values and a rich heritage that we've managed to preserve, to protect and to pass on from generation to generation.

The Douro, as a wine region, must strive to safeguard its economic, environmental and social sustainability within the context of the region’s characteristics and realities: low yields; high costs of production; demographic constraints and climate change. In this regard, we have made significant strides in viticulture and oenology, always pushing the envelope, combining empirical knowledge with innovation. We have endeavoured to provide best practice guidance to the growers we work with, and it is very rewarding to observe how well tended and healthy their vineyards are.

Viticulture can be likened to a craft that is reliant on the passing of knowledge from generation to generation. We value very highly the preservation of empirical knowledge handed down the generations and appreciate the importance of sharing our experience with our dedicated viticulture and winemaking teams. This applied knowledge underpins good working practices and production methods and ultimately, the quality of our wines.

The power of human relationships is at the very heart of our successful journey. This is a defining principle for our family and is reflected in the strong and longstanding

relationships nurtured over a long period with local growers and suppliers, many of whom have become lasting friends.

The Douro region has a singular ecosystem where unique and well adapted grape varieties thrive. We want our wines to express to the full the grape varieties and terroirs that define them, and one of the ways to best achieve that is low-intervention viticulture. Moreover, our long-term mindset paves the way for our ambitious investments, always thinking ahead, for the next generation. Currently, we are launching a number of wines produced by my father, and even some very rare ones produced by my grandfather’s generation.

As a wine-producing business, we consider innovation and constant development to be fundamental. Port has never been so well made as it is today. The Douro, however, is also a region of excellent quality still wines, having built a strong reputation for producing well-balanced, long-lived reds. More recently, the region has also been producing world-class white wines, which already account for 25% of total Douro DOC production. Altitude is an important factor and explains the exceptional freshness, elegance and refinement of Douro whites. These developments have contributed to the region’s resilience.

The Douro is adapting to the future without ever losing sight of what makes it so unique - its authenticity.

Governance

Long-term mindset

A family-owned, tradition-oriented and legacy-driven company.

‘At Symington Family Estates, we recognise that the future of our core business relies on the supply of grapes from the Douro region and on the people required to transform them into products that we can sell. It is essential therefore that we remain focused on the challenges of climate change as it affects our own vineyards and those of our farmers, and take every appropriate measure to preserve and protect the fragile environment in which we operate. We also recognise the need to create conditions where the longer term population of the Douro stabilises, reversing the long term trend of emigration from the region. Sustainability to us is much more than a few well-chosen phrases in our communication strategy, it is essential to the survival of our business.’

Rupert Symington CEO and Joint Managing Director

4. Previous spread: Young Symingtons, 4th generation

We think long-term. We pass our values, knowledge and experience from generation to generation, working in a spirit of mutual respect, loyalty and commitment.

We are committed to passing on to the next generation a stronger and more sustainable family-owned wine company than the one that was entrusted to us. Our mission is to produce exceptional port and still wines that celebrate and preserve the uniqueness of Portugal and contribute to a more positive future for the regions where we work.

Symington Family Estates is the parent company of a group of companies all involved in the production, marketing and distribution of Portuguese wines, both nationally and internationally, as well as the wine tourism sector. Our governance model reflects the strong family management tradition characteristic of the sector and the fact that the company is 100% family owned.

At the top of the decision-making chain, business strategy is the responsibility of the Family Board, which is made up of all the company's shareholders, both executive and nonexecutive. In addition, an external member provides strategic and long-term advice based on many years of management experience in a wide variety of businesses.

Our strategic programme is set out in our Vision 2035 statement. The Family Board regularly reviews this programme to assess the degree of achievement and adequacy of the strategic objectives, taking into account the external context, threats and opportunities.

The second line of governance is the Board of Directors, which oversees the day-to-day management of all internal operations. It has a strong executive role, but also makes a significant contribution to setting the company's strategic objectives.

The Board meets at least six times a year with a twopart agenda: the evaluation of the monthly reports from the management areas and the analysis and discussion of a key business topic. For the latter, the relevant area is invited to reflect on current trends, key challenges to be considered in its own department strategy and the potential impact on the business, and then to propose a three-year strategic plan, with main actions and timelines for implementation.

The Board is also responsible for approving the company's general and operational objectives and the three-year strategic plans presented by each area.

Given its importance and centrality to the business, sustainability is managed at Board level, with Rob Symington, a 5th generation family member, leading the sustainability policy in a particularly active and galvanising manner.

On the financial side, we ensure compliance with all legal and tax requirements by having the company's accounts audited and certified by leading specialists in the field. We aim to be at the forefront of our industry. We act with integrity, determination and proactivity to achieve our goals.

We are passionate about our work, our products and the regions where we operate, and we are proud of everything we do.

Double

Materiality

Turning threats into opportunities

In an era where sustainability stands central to our collective future, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a bold step forward. By requiring organisations to disclose high-quality non-financial information under the double materiality principle, the CSRD paves the way for a more transparent and accountable corporate world. Furthermore, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) provide guidance on sustainability performance reporting, covering strategy, governance, implementation measures, and performance measurement.

A double materiality approach ensures that companies focus on the topics that present the highest impacts, risks and opportunities. An outside-in perspective helps assess how sustainability issues affect a company's financial structure, mitigate risks and foster opportunities over short, medium and long-term horizons. At the same time, an inside-out perspective assesses the company's impactboth positive and negative - on people and the environment throughout its value chain.

Our materiality assessment follows a comprehensive methodology, starting with the identification of relevant issues. This process is informed by a combination of sources, taking into account emerging trends, risks and opportunities across the sector, as well as sustainability topics relevant to our stakeholders. Following in-depth due diligence and analysis through a dual materiality lens, we have analysed the materiality of each topic to determine its relevance and the best strategic approach. In addition, stakeholder input is fundamental to addressing materiality throughout the value chain. We have started with integrated stakeholder profiles and defined the methodology for stakeholder consultations to be conducted by the end of 2024. We will be requesting these consultations from our key suppliers and an updated version of our material topics will reflect the integration of their material topics, although we do not expect the main findings to change.

This approach to ESRS alignment demonstrates our deep commitment to sustainability, guided by a pragmatic yet purposeful testament to our love of our land and people.

Sustainable

Development

Goals

Shared blueprint for peace and prosperity

‘Our goal is to pass on a stronger, more sustainable family business than the one that was entrusted to us. Today, this requires meeting the challenges of our time with determination, focus, resilience and creativity – constantly adapting and innovating commercially. I sincerely hope that my grandchildren are able to produce port and wine in the Douro. The actions that we collectively take over the coming years will ensure that this can be so.’

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a set of 17 interconnected objectives established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030 while also addressing climate change and protecting our oceans and forests. We are aware of our responsibilities, as well as of the role we must play in taking action to implement the shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

In terms of integrating the SDGs into our business, we started with a mapping exercise to understand the materiality of all the different goals and sub-goals to our own reality. This serves to understand where we were already on track, and where we had areas of our business that could be more aligned with the SDGs.

In this process we have found some challenges in integrating the SDGs into our business, the main one being that the SDGs speak the language of sustainable development, which is not necessarily always the language of how a business works. Therefore, we have gone through an internal process of educating our colleagues about the implications of this commitment for how we do business today and how we want to develop our activities in the future.

Mission

Forging a sustainable future

Demonstrate commitment to low impact production, preservation of local ecosystems, promotion of regional socio-economic growth and innovation-driven stewardship.

Goal 1 – Renewable Energy

100% electricity from certified renewable energy sources. 20% generated in-house

Goal 2 – Electric Vehicles

100% of new passenger vehicle purchases, by 2025, will be electric or hybrid.

Goal 3 – Carbon Emissions

35% reduction in CO2 emissions per litre of wine bottled (between 2018 and 2025).

Goal 4 – Energy Efficiency

10% reduction in energy used per litre of wine bottled.

Goal 5 – Water Efficiency

10% reduction in water used in winery & bottling per litre of wine bottled.

Goal 6 – Biodiversity Support

Support major ecosystem restoration / reforestation project in Portugal.

Goal 7 – Low-impact Winery

Gold LEED (sustainable building) certification for our new winery.

Goal 8 – Volunteering Scheme

80% uptake of new employee volunteering programme.

Goal 9 – Impact Fund

Launch new Symington social & environmental impact fund.

Goal 10 – B Corp Certification

Achieve certification for highest standards of social & environmental performance.

Our main priority is to contribute to sustainable development in the areas in which we can imprint greater economic, social and environmental impact.

In the natural world, WATER is the stepping stone, for without it there can be no life. In this section of the report, we will focus on the fundamental challenges of sustainability, those that we must address in order to build our environmental approach. To make a real difference, concrete and meaningful action is essential, and it has to be comprehensive and sustained over time. Even programmes that may appear outwardly small and insignificant will add up and contribute to a bigger, worthwhile result. We have to see the bigger picture and stand firmly by our convictions.

Viticulture

A tale of resilience

tMountain viticulture

The Douro region is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Its singular landscape ranges from the monumental presence of the Douro River to steep hillsides populated with vineyards, wild scrubland, and Mediterranean forests. This is a region renowned for its wine tradition, with port wine being one of the mainstays of the culture, traditions and, above all, the local economy.

We believe that the path towards increasing prosperity in the Douro, as a wine region, is to combine ancestral knowledge with advanced technology, innovating viticultural practices in order to increase vineyard resilience to climate threats, to reduce the preponderance of manual farm work, protect and restore habitats, while enhancing the area's rich heritage.

Sustainable viticulture

We currently manage about 1,130 hectares of Douro vineyards. Each year we replant the equivalent of 3% of our vines to ensure their long-term sustainability.

All our vineyards have integrated production certification, which means that high-quality food production is undertaken using rational management of natural resources favouring organic mechanisms over

conventional tools, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture. We have also been increasing the extension of our organic production and will soon reach 205 hectares.

We believe that viticulture sustainability is based on two complementary strategies—precision agriculture and intensifying ecologically-based actions. Together they enhance ecosystems so as to gradually reduce grape growing impact.

Precision viticulture

In 2007, we took the first step toward incorporating information technology into our farming. We began by applying system's infrared aerial images to produce 2D vineyard maps that provide data on the vegetative and maturation states of the various plots and varieties.

In 2010, process optimisation continued as these images became part of our SIG-Vinha platform so that they might boost the accuracy of decision-making, which is particularly critical at harvest time. Moreover, since water usage has become increasingly central to optimised and responsible farming, we have been installing weather stations and soil moisture sensors on our estates.

Sophisticated technology

Geographic information system

Infrared satellite & drones

Climate change

Organic fertilizer

Grazing sheep

Community support

Local labour

Technical support to farmers

Crop nutrition

Soil testing

Plant analysis

Water efficiency

Water stress management

Deficit irrigation

Nature conservation

Dry-stone walls

Perennial trees and shrubs

Our approach to irrigation

Vineyards are, by definition, a forgiving crop regarding water scarcity. In our current context of increasingly severe extreme heat waves, the vines are adopting novel root and vegetation wall strategies. Nevertheless, to maintain a balanced vegetative cycle, especially at ripening, the plants should optimally be guaranteed adequate water supplies to achieve each vineyard's qualitative objectives. So, we monitor the vines' water stress, irrigating as little as possible (deficit irrigation) depending on the weather parameters recorded at our weather stations. Additionally, vines' water potential data is measured using a pressure chamber, while soil water availability is assessed using fixed and mobile probes that gauge the moisture content at different depths; all these data are then reconciled with the physical characteristics of the soils.

We have recently taken another step towards vine water regulation data by installing meters called Sap-flows directly on plants. This highly sensitive apparatus collects real-time plant transpiration data to provide insight into plants' water use efficiency, their dryness resistance, and the relationship between soil moisture and plant water flows. These gauges offer new data to support decisions about when and how much to irrigate. In other words, they allow us to fine-tune our watering strategy, so as to adapt to climate change.

Soil health

Green cover crops

Minimum tillage

People Safety

Staff training and awareness

Protective equipment

Pest control

Mating disruption

Bat boxes

Energy savings

Solar panels

Shorten grape routes

Waste management

Biobeds pesticide residues

Packaging recycle

Monitoring

Field scouting

Intelligent data collection

Ecosystem health

Soil health is essential for the normal functioning of the vine, for balanced grape maturation and thus, for producing exceptional wines. We are working to promote soils that are rich habitats for microorganisms and thereby better able to retain more moisture and to resist erosion. We are, however, working cautiously so that nature and its natural cycles might do their job. Our approach is to intervene minimally and indirectly, so that our efforts do not conflict with ecosystem responses, which, by nature, tend to create balance and resilience. We prefer to reinforce nature through natural-based solutions, such as encouraging cover crops, using organic compost, and enhancing the conditions for indigenous fauna and flora to flourish.

Vineyard cover crops, whether wild or sown, are crucial for conserving soil health, as they improve soil structure, help resist erosion and retain moisture, while also promoting a symbiosis between cover crops’ root systems and the surrounding ecological communities and, therein, enhancing their biodiversity. We are currently carrying out field studies of seven distinct combinations of plant species to deepen our insight into the impacts of each on the soil microbiome and the benefits for the vine. The goal is to increase our knowledge base about the advantages of each species for the vineyard ecosystem, to help steer the search for mechanisms to adapt to climate alterations.

1. We maintain approximately 93 kilometres of old stone terraces on our properties which besides supporting vines serve as havens for the Douro’s flora and fauna.

2. Sap flow monitoring system installed in our vineyards at Quinta do Ataíde.

3. Phytobac® biobed at Quinta dos Malvedos. This system treats sprayer wash water in an organic reactor where contaminants are biologically degraded.

4. Bat house at Quinta do Ataíde.

To deal with pests such as the grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) and the green leafhopper (Empoasca vitis), we have deployed sexual confusion or chromotropic traps to monitor the insect population and determine the optimal treatment window, as well as to select the best means for precision treatment. In the fight against the green leafhopper, we have been introducing colonies of bats—natural predators of this insect—near the particularly vulnerable grape varieties which, if successful, will lead to a reduction in the number of conventional treatments.

As for vine disease, we have been testing the use of lupin-derived bio fungicides, and promising results have already been obtained for the potential substitution of conventional treatments for powdery mildew and grey rot.

National Sustainable Winegrowing Certification

In June 2023, we were proud to learn that we were the first wine producer in Portugal to receive the National Sustainable Winegrowing Certification. Our Level A award is the highest possible classification. This framework was recently created by the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho and ViniPortugal specifically for the Portuguese wine sector. It aims to be a visible and independent guarantor of Portuguese wines in international markets, underlining their credibility and reliability, as well as demonstrating producers' commitment to sustainable production.

Water

A life-giving resource

88%

Water is a vital natural resource, essential for agriculture, energy and industry, and for creating and maintaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. The imbalance between water demand and supply and its consequences, which are expected to be exacerbated by climate change, are already evident in some regions of Portugal, where a significant proportion of agricultural land is under water stress.

Recognising the growing challenge of water scarcity, the UN General Assembly launched the ‘Decade of Action for Water’ - from 22 March 2018 to 22 March 2028 - to mobilise action to transform the way we manage water. In the wine industry, water is used at various stages of the process, from the vineyard to bottling, including storage and tourism activities. Efficient management of this resource is critical to the sustainability of the wine sector, as water scarcity and availability can increase production costs and limit productivity growth.

Overall, our goal is to reduce our water consumption by 10% by 2025 while supporting wine production practices. We have set a second line of key performance indicators in place and encourage our teams to champion the best results in their areas.

435 000 m3

Water availability and quality

In regard to water quality management, we have in place a comprehensive quality control procedure. When it comes to ground or surface sources, which represent the majority of our water sources, each point of treatment has an on-line quality and quantity monitoring system that allows us to automatically adjust the treatment in response to analytical deviations. We have recently installed a water treatment system in our Ataíde winery that uses chlorine dioxide (ClO2) as a disinfectant. This is an effective approach to disinfecting and oxidising organic compounds and provides a safe solution for providing potable water while preventing the formation of trichloroanisole (TCA), an undesirable compound that can affect the quality and flavour of water.

Water management

To address this challenge, we have implemented an integrated and comprehensive water management strategy that includes monitoring the amount of water used in each key activity in the production process.

To this end, monthly water consumption is digitally recorded in our Infraspeak® maintenance software and automatically integrated into our Kisense® monitoring and management system. Kisense® provides real-time visualisation and predictive analysis for optimisation and control, individually and collectively, across all our sites. This enables us to understand current water usage, identify inefficiencies such as leaks and address them quickly and effectively, and importantly, provides insight for system redesign and continuous process improvement.

One of the most important water management measures is team awareness of best practice in water use. To this end, we provide regular refresher training to our production teams. This includes a detailed assessment of the key processes that use the most water, including the do's and don'ts of their daily tasks in the wineries and warehouses. We also hold workplace meetings to hear from colleagues about solutions to improve processes. We have made changes to washing equipment to make it more efficient and have increased pressure washing equipment and dry-cleaning tools. Wherever possible, rinse water is used for the next wash. On the bottling lines, the closed-loop clean-in-place (CIP) system we have introduced allows us to reuse half of the total water used in the bottle rinsing machine.

We are currently working to optimise our winemaking processes in several aspects, including the evaluation of new stabilisation and filtration technologies, capacity management, among other areas. These initiatives will improve efficiency and prioritise sustainability by strategically reducing wine transfers, resulting in substantial water savings.

21 800 m3

Wastewater treatment

The wastewater that inevitably results from winery operations is a source of pollution, although it is essentially made up of natural, non-toxic components of grapes and wine, such as sugars, organic acids, alcohols and some cleaning-related chemicals.

We now have nine wastewater treatment plants installed on our sites. In order to optimise these treatment infrastructures, they also receive wastewater from our smaller wineries that do not have treatment facilities. There are good gains in operational efficiency and cost reduction.

We use one of these two types of biological treatment in our treatment plants: extended aeration reactor and sequential batch reactor, depending on the treatment capacity better suited to each case. Our wastewater treatment plants are highly technological approaches that include oxygen probes, automatic pH correction and volume monitoring with full remote control. Additionally, we have sludge drying equipment to optimise sludge valorisation by sending it through recovery companies for compost processing.

We want to go further and reuse as much water as possible before it is disposed of. We are currently involved in a consortium study to better understand which water reuse technology is best suited to winemaking requirements.

of water per litre bottled (2022)

Energy

A path to a sustainable future

57%

Energy consumption is a major contributor to our environmental and economic performance. Energy management, including energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy is therefore critical to ensuring an effective transition to cleaner energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving costs. This is particularly relevant given the uncertainties associated with the availability and cost of electricity and fuels.

The Kisense® information system plays a key role in our energy management, providing a tool for the continuous collection, storage, analysis and interpretation of energy data. Electricity consumption is automatically integrated into the system, providing real-time records for over 75% of total consumption through remote metering. The remaining data is integrated on a monthly basis. Natural gas, propane gas, diesel and petrol consumption are also automatically integrated with Kisense®. A better understanding of energy profiles provides insight into process optimisation and is helpful when planning changes to infrastructure or internal procedures. Reactive

43%

energy reports from Kisense® are also available. Every month we share internally a comprehensive report of major consumption sites with electricity consumption and photovoltaic production diagnostic.

In terms of energy savings, the most cost-effective measures result from changes in operating procedures and behaviour. Following energy surveys of key consumption areas, immediate actions have been identified, such as redesign and replacement of lighting, changing forklift loading schedules, adjust set points temperatures for air conditioning, routinely checking for compressed air leaks, cleaning windows and roof-lights to maximise daylight, and using gravity transfers of wine, where possible, among others. In terms of employee behaviour, we have started by providing education and information via workers’ awareness of energy best practices, such as switching off office devices outside of working hours, planning operational tasks, when possible, to better coincide with low-cost periods to avoid consumption peaks.

We have taken a number of measures to improve the energy efficiency of our equipment. These include the installation of motion sensors and photocells, replacement with LED lighting, switching to multi-function devices instead of separate printers and photocopiers, new variable speed drive (VSD) air compressors, installation of oxygen sensors for process wastewater treatment, water heating systems using solar panels, installation and replacement of high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology, particularly in the cellars, which account for a large proportion of our electricity consumption. In addition, we have equipped our cellars with temperature sensors and a real-time temperature monitoring system that allows remote access and operational control of process instrumentation.

A large proportion of the energy we use is related to the energy dependency of buildings. We have invested in insulating roofs, walls and ceilings. Where appropriate, roofs have also been refurbished to increase natural light. We have installed blinds and solar windows to reduce heat gain in summer. We are also working on new horizons in this area and are proud to announce the construction of the first LEED-certified winery in Portugal, a winery that sets an example for energy efficiency. (For more on this achievement, see the Patrimony chapter in this report).

At the same time, we are accelerating our investment in renewable energy. In 2022, we produced 219 MWh of renewable energy from photovoltaic panels, and by 2023 we expect to generate 20% of the electricity we use indoors, making us more resilient and energy independent while contributing to energy decarbonisation. In addition, our national electricity grid was 50% renewable in 2022, but we are on track to purchase 100% certified renewable energy.

These combined efforts have resulted in measurable reductions in energy consumption and associated energy costs, but ongoing and additional measures must be implemented to maintain and improve our energy performance in order to reduce electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 10% and 35% respectively, by 2025.

Carbon Footprint

The powerful enemy of Earth

Climate change is a serious threat to our future as wine producers. Although this challenge extends infinitely beyond the scope of any one company, we feel a responsibility to act decisively and gear our processes towards the green energy transition, thereby achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In accordance with the Greenhouse Gases Protocol — published by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute — we carried out in 2018 the first full accounting of emissions throughout our value chain for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Each process was thoroughly analysed by multidisciplinary teams, yielding a detailed description of the carbon profile in each scope of activity: direct emissions from company-controlled sources (scope 1), indirect emissions from energy acquisition (scope 2), and indirect emissions related to the value chain (scope 3).

The resulting tool automatically aggregates more than 85% of the necessary primary data. Thus, our carbon footprint is annually measured and then verified by a third party in accordance with international standard ISO 14064 Greenhouse Gases - Part 1.

This calculation is a very useful framework for assessing the carbon impact of new products and suppliers, and for shaping solutions to new risks and opportunities.

Reducing our carbon footprint is one of our annual targets, along with lost time from injuries and financial targets. These are all factored into the company's bonus scheme.

Our current expansion into different areas of the wine tourism business requires us to define new carbon footprint indicators, particularly in the hospitality sector. These new metrics will support the alignment of operational management, enabling benchmarking with our peers and the setting of new internal targets specific to this business.

Access to this wide-ranging data is critical to the development and implementation of our decarbonisation strategy.

per litre bottled (2022)

Waste

A life-cycle approach

Waste generation is one of the environmental impacts of our activity. We approach this issue from the perspective of the life cycle, and its control and mitigation start before residue is produced and ends only at its final destination.

Indeed, efficient waste management starts with procurement decisions. Regarding high volume products, we have begun opting for larger packaging that can be reused to prevent it from entering the waste cycle.

We have also sought to return transport packaging to the respective suppliers to significantly reduce wastage, thereby saving suppliers both resources and costs.

Much of our residue consists of cardboard, plastic, and glass, which have high recyclability rates, and both used and rejected corks are also recycled.

A national cycle dedicated to managing plant protection packaging waste ensures a safe, final destination for these materials, as is the case with other hazardous waste products, such as used oils, batteries and electrical and electronic refuse.

We currently forward our grape stems for composting and to biomass boilers for energy recovery. We are also engaged in research seeking to transform grape stems into valuable by-products. One such example was their transformation into coating plates, which, although in the pilot phase, is showing promise for giving new life to our plants.

We are also studying, downstream, packaging waste and are working to ensure that our packaging does not impede or disrupt recycling processes.

We are researching ways to reduce both bottle weight and a variety of associated materials, not only to facilitate recycling, but also to reduce costs and carbon footprints during our products’ life cycle. Alternatives to plastic bar-top stoppers are also under investigation to reduce their environmental impact.

8. Previous spread: Grape stems

9. Composting at Quinta do Ataíde

Procurement

Frugal innovation as a new ethos

'We recognise that there is still much to be done in the area of sustainability. That's why we will continue to work with our suppliers to find innovative and responsible solutions. Environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility and we are doing our part. We need all our suppliers to join with us on this journey.'

Product and service purchasing are decisive for a company's sustainability. Since all departments are buyers, procurement affects not only the level of sustainability but also the company's economic, environmental and social balance sheets.

Economically speaking, we take into account not only product or service quality, delivery time and cost, but we also prefer to opt for national and, whenever possible, local products. This is especially crucial in regions where these decisions may affect the financial health of local businesses, as is the case in the Douro.

Environmentally speaking, materials procurement is partly decided based on their characteristics, such as composition, raw material origin, the use of recycled products, the place of manufacture, their recyclability, as well as the existence of environmental certifications.

Regarding social responsibility, our high-risk suppliers are evaluated in respect to topics such as working conditions and ethical compliance, as verified by periodic audits. We also assess subcontracted services taking place within our facilities, through audits of compliance with internal environmental performance and occupational safety and health standards.

At the macro level, we are developing and optimising our purchasing processes by reviewing and systematising the respective criteria, as well as defining new performance indicators. Thereby, we aim to improve the company's sustainability metrics.

10. Previous spread: Our restaurant Bomfim 1896 with Pedro Lemos, located in the village of Pinhão, recreates the sense and smells of traditional Douro cuisine. Using traditional recipes to create classic dishes in wood-fired ovens, we aim to showcase the best of locally sourced products from the Douro and beyond.

11. Graham's Lodge wine shop.

The atmosphere is invisible and intangible, but nevertheless absolutely essential to support life. And just like the AIR we breathe, innovation and a will to change are indispensable if we are to preserve our planet. The Earth will not continue to offer its riches for us to harvest unless we take committed and firm action.

R&D Pioneering progress

Our wines reflect a willingness to combine traditional know-how with the most advanced scientific knowledge. We have brought viticulture and winemaking closer to innovative models that respond to the constant need for continuous improvement and adaptation to new trends. In addition to our in-house research team of dedicated full-time professionals, we have established collaborative research studies with academia and other partners.

Over the past twenty-five years, several research projects have been undertaken by Symington or in consortium, the results of which can be seen in our vineyards and wineries.

Symington Grape Libraries | Knowledge of grape varieties and rootstocks

Our overall aim is to increase the knowledge base of Douro and other Portuguese grape varieties to help guide future planting decisions. Climate change has made this work particularly important, and we are studying which varieties are most resistant to heat and drought, and the conservation of lesser-known varieties. This line of action began in 1984 with the support of the National Clonal Selection (*) Programme (PORVID), followed in 1997 by the experimental plot at Quinta da Cavadinha, with the study of the affinity relationships of 4 grape varieties and 5 rootstocks. Since 2014, these studies have received the contributions of the 3 grape variety libraries created at Quinta do Ataíde, Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Tapadinha, with a universe of 55 varieties. These research vineyards support decisions on new plantings, promote a series of interactions with research centres and support several R&D projects.

Vinification | Automated Lagares

We trialled prototypes in 1998 and 1999 and installed the first three fully operational automated lagares at Quinta dos Malvedos in 2000. The new system proved its worth very quickly and we soon installed more automated lagares at our Cavadinha, Senhora da Ribeira and Bomfim wineries. The advantages of automated lagares are many: double stepping and cap submersion; high skin-to-juice contact ratio for optimum maceration; temperature and stepping pressure control; hydraulic tipping for fast runoff and fast turnaround; 24-hour availability; improved hygiene due to stainless steel; ideal micro-oxygenation of the must; lower operational costs. The automated lagares, designed and developed by our own team, have proved to be revolutionary and represent one of the most significant advances in Douro winemaking.

Grapevine Water Stress | Efficient use of water by vines

Since 2014, the general objective of this line of action has been to understand methods for assessing and monitoring the water status of vines in terms of soil water availability, vine water use (transpiration) and interaction

with atmospheric conditions (climate). At the same time, different deficit irrigation management strategies aimed at maximising quality, saving water for the plant and increasing the vine's resilience are being studied for application in vineyard management.

VITINOV (1) | Mechanical harvesting on steep slope vineyards

From 2014 to 2018, Symington led a ProDER Cooperation for Innovation project with a technical partner from Germany. The main aim of the project was to develop a harvesting machine that could be adapted to hillside vineyards, thereby increasing the efficiency of mechanical harvesting and preserving the quality of the grapes. Whilst there are still challenges to overcome, including adapting some of our vineyards to accommodate the harvester, the trials with the harvester have performed well on the terraces of several of our field trial plots, exceeding expectations with indices of 12-14 tonnes/day, with field efficiencies ranging from 45% to 65% on narrow terraces.

Sustainable Steep Slope Vineyards | Erosion management

The main objectives of this study are: to establish statistical relationships between an inventory of landslides and a set of predisposing and triggering factors that control slope instability in man-made slopes; to evaluate the erosion processes due to ravines and the influence of vineyard interventions on run-off processes due to intense, short-term rainfall; and to define the geometry of terrace construction compatible with rational land use management in hillside vineyards.

2D‐MAPPING | Qualitative plot mapping using FTIR & UV-VIS spectrophotometry

This project aims to develop and implement a new method, '2D Parcel Analytical Mapping', for improved terroir characterisation. Objectives include the development of 2D parcel mapping (FTIR; UV-VIS); an intra-parcel variance study; comparison of PCD maps; comparison of microvinified wine quality using fruit harvested from different analytically characterised micro-zones. Although this innovative but time-consuming method is not favoured for general application, it is recommended for targeted intra-parcel variance studies; for terroir characterisation; as a validation method for non-destructive berry PAT.

VINESCOUT (2) | Intelligent decision by a vineyard robot

The aim of the VineScout project was to build a robot that could autonomously move around the vineyard, connect different types of sensors and process the information with appropriate algorithms, with the result being simple and easy to use for the winegrower. The result was the creation of maps to support vineyard management, such as water availability and plant nutrition.

VISCA (3) | Vineyards integrated smart climate application

VISCA provides climate services and a decision support system (DSS) that integrates climate and agricultural models with farmers' management specifications to design short-term practices and medium- and long-term adaptation strategies to climate change. The project has been validated through field demonstrations with endusers at three demonstration sites in Spain, Italy and Portugal (Symington).

VITIGEOSS (4) | Vineyard innovative tool based on the integration of earth observation services and in-field sensors

The VitiGEOSS project aims to use European Open Earth Observation services to improve agricultural operations at economic, environmental and local levels. To this end, the project will develop an innovative vineyard management solution based on the integration of Earth observation services and in-field sensors to increase the resolution and reliability of satellite information applied to the viticulture sector.

G.O.T.A. (5) | Manage, Operate and Transfer. Efficient use of Water in the vineyard

The aim of this project, coordinated by ADVID, was to make winegrowers in the Douro Demarcated Region aware of the importance of the energy status of water in the vineyard and of efficient irrigation management. It also aimed to provide them with the skills to apply good practices in vineyard irrigation water management on their own farms.

NSAC (6) | Selection of native non-saccharomyces yeast strains for port production

This enriching study is the result of a tripartite consortium with two Portuguese companies specialising in the manufacture of oenological products (Ângelo Coimbra S.A.) and the development of practical solutions in the field of biotechnology (Biocant). The characterisation of these yeasts, their successful isolation and application highlight the promising organoleptic properties that these indigenous Douro yeasts bring to the art of winemaking.

Q-AD4PurePort (7) | New range of port wines with an innovative method of wine spirit selection

This study aims to characterise the aromatic profile of wine spirits in order to find the best combinations for different styles of port wine. The result of yet another successful partnership, funded by the EU (FEDER), the consortium with the QOPNA research unit of the University of Aveiro and the National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), has enabled a further step to be taken towards improving the consistency of quality in the production of premium Port wines and the creation of new and surprising ranges.

VINE & WINE (8) | Driving sustainable growth through smart innovation

In 2022, we joined the national consortium for the wine sector, known as Vine & Wine, and participated in various production innovation and research and development projects. This national consortium brings together companies, universities, government institutions and wine producers in a joint effort to create sustainable growth in the wine sector through technological innovation and an integrated vision. The subprojects in which we are involved are listed below.

VineAdapt2Climate | Modelling and projection of different climate events

The aim of this project is to provide highresolution climate change projections in targeted areas relevant to wine growers, considering different scenarios for the medium to long term, which will provide important information for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

BioGrapeSustain | Use of grapevine and microbiome diversity for sustainable production

This project aims to study the adaptation to climate change, the tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and the oenological interest of rich indigenous grape varieties that are well adapted to the soil and climate of the Douro region. The microbial diversity of the vineyard ecosystem will also be assessed to understand its potential use in the production of new biofortifiers, biofertilizers and biopesticides.

MiKS4Vine and ZEONI | New products/formulations to promote more resilient vineyards The focus of this project is to test 2 different strategies to promote vineyard resilience and enhance ecosystem services: 1) the influence of a kaolin (KI) and silicon (Si) formulation to improve grapevine water relations, photosynthetic performance and berry quality; 2) the use of an innovative product, ZEONI, combined with different cover crop strategies to optimise the synergy between zeolites, nitrification inhibitors and cover crop management.

DSSs | Decision Support Systems for viticulture and winemaking practices The aim of the project is to create a layer of intelligent services between a national data ecosystem and an advanced "interface" with the different vine and wine stakeholders, in order to provide advanced and integrated transversal and vertical management throughout the production chain, as well as the integration of the results of this Mobilising Agenda.

BUGS | Collection and study of microbial cultures for the wine industry The aim of this project is to assemble a collection of endogenous microbial resources as a driver for innovation and the development of advanced biobased products, services and solutions with high added value to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the Portuguese wine industry, by providing access to validated resources that include both microorganisms and associated data, developing bio-based tools to mitigate the effects of climate change on wine quality.

5.

4. Previous spread: Automated lagar

5. Joana Valente, R&D Viticulture Assistant measuring moisture content in the soil.

6. Fernando Alves Head of R&D on the new cover crop trials at Quinta do Bomfim.

(1) VITINOV - Innovation in the harvest and transportation system of grapes in hillside viticulture - Project 020521052305 – Measure 4.1 Cooperation for Innovation, co-financed by the ProDER

(2) VINESCOUT - This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 737669. https:// vinescout.eu/web/

(3) VISCA This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 730253. https://www.visca.eu/

(4) VITIGEOSS This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 869565. https://vitigeoss.eu/

(5) G.O.T.A. - https://www.advid.pt/en/ gota-manage-operate-and-transferefficient-use-of-water-in-the-vineyardbenefiting-from-every-drop

(6) NSAC Project 17736 - POCI-010247-FEDER-017736, co-financed by the COMPETE 2020 Operational Programme under the PORTUGAL 2020 Programme. https://www.symington.com/ inova%C3%A7%C3%A3o/indigenousyeast-study

(7) Q-AD4PurePort - Project 39956 - POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039956, co-financed by the COMPETE 2020 Operational Programme under the PORTUGAL 2020 Programme. https://www.symington.com/ inova%C3%A7%C3%A3o/estudo-deaguardentes-vinicas/280

(8) VINE & WINE Driving Sustainable Growth Through Smart Innovation Project nº C644866286-00000011 https://sites.google.com/multisector.pt/ vwpt-divulg/home

ZE-WAVE | Wastewater reuse in wineries or irrigation and CO2 capture and reuse This project aims to develop a transportable treatment system to provide a final treatment step for biologically treated effluent for safe reuse, such as equipment cleaning or irrigation. In addition, the capture and sequestration of CO2 from fermentations by testing membranes to purify CO2 from steam fermentation and optimise its conversion into a valuable product such as calcium carbonate, which can be reused locally to correct soil acidity.

VIN.ES Monitor | Vineyard Ecosystem Services Management and Monitoring App The aim of this project is to provide a platform to integrate information on biodiversity and ecosystem services and to develop ecosystem management practices, such as controlling undergrowth, monitoring pests and natural enemies, identifying best management practices for slopes, wetlands, forests and other ecological elements.

Climate Transition The road to carbon neutrality

7.

The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is well known. However, much remains to be done throughout all economic sectors to meet global climate goals and avoid catastrophic warming.

This chapter highlights our main emission reduction measures. In 2022, about 95% of our carbon emissions came from scope 3 of the value chain; roughly 3% are emitted from our core business (scope 1), and only 2% are related to the electricity acquisition (scope 2).

Approximately 40% of scope 1 emissions result from vehicle use, both ours and those at the service of the company. A revision of our fleet and mobility policy is currently underway, taking into account current trends. We are updating automobile replacement and rental and operational management procedures, and a ridesharing model is also under implementation. We closed 2022, with 17% of our fleet composed of electric or hybrid automobiles, which allowed us to prevent an equivalent of 9 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, we have also been installing vehicle charging points at our facilities, with 16 stations in Gaia and four in the Douro. Another ten will soon be installed at the Douro facilities, where public charging points are still scarce.

To address scope 2 emissions from electricity acquisition, we are enhancing our own production of renewable electricity and will soon be able to produce 25% of our needs. In 2022, 600kWp of photovoltaic panels were installed in seven locations, primarily in facilities that are large consumers of electricity such as bottling centres and some wineries. New irrigation systems are being powered with solar panels, which substantially reduces both their costs and carbon footprints. Meanwhile, we are engaged in a thorough assessment of the electricity market, seeking the best offers and guarantees of a green energy supply with certificates of origin.

Our Climate Transition Plan has three main dimensions: emissions reduction across the value chain, business-specific climate adaptation, and natural and technological sequestration of emissions.

*

Bottle status 2022

* our still wine bottles have an average weight of 427g per bottle (75cL)

Regarding scope 3, bottle purchase is the largest sole contributor to our carbon footprint, accounting for 30% of our total emissions. Therefore, in 2019, we launched a Programme to lighten those bottles with the highest carbon impact. The total lightening of the first eight models resulted in a potential reduction of 700 tonnes of glass, which in turn corresponds to 566 fewer tonnes of CO2 being released.

Bottle lightweight programme 2020-2022

8

models

7 port wine & 1 still wine

7 897 980

bottles

of glass per bottle (average) - 88g of glass reduced 699 t avoided 566 tCO2e

'If wineries around the world continue rolling up their sleeves, as many are doing, and adopting truly ambitious sustainability strategies, I believe that we will collectively be able to look back and say that the wine trade truly was a force for good.’

The average weight of all our current still wine bottles is 427 grams, which is very near the reference value of 420 grams for a light bottle.

Other forms of packaging account for 5% of our emissions. According to the principles of circularity and the goal of lowering our carbon footprint, materials selection guidelines have been drawn up. Each potential new packaging type is assessed according to its impact at each step along its life cycle: its raw material origins, its use of recycled materials and aptness for recycling, as well as the current status of its end-of-life collection and treatment criteria.

Another crucial segment of our emissions is intrinsically linked to port wine production, as roughly 8% of our carbon footprint results from the purchase of grape spirit. For this reason, we are particularly keen to assess the climate performance and the decarbonisation plans of our brandy suppliers.

Grape purchases also weigh significantly, representing 12% of our carbon footprint. A three-year plan is currently being implemented among our sixty largest growers that includes both a survey of good agricultural practices and encouragement to collaborate on improving their sustainability performance. We see the climate transition as an opportunity, especially for the wine sector, for technological transformation and adaptation of our business for the future.

International Wineries for Climate Action

The International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) is a group of wineries committed to reducing carbon emissions across the industry. We joined the IWCA in January 2020 and have made great progress in reducing our carbon emissions to achieve Silver Membership - a testament to our commitment to this shared challenge.

Wine producers face the same climate threats no matter which continent they grow on. By joining the IWCA, we have also joined a channel for the open exchange of the latest technology, agronomic expertise and knowledge to improve carbon reduction strategies. The IWCA has committed to the Race to Zero, setting targets to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.

We believe that wine companies working together to find solutions to climate change adaptation and mitigation, based on rigorous and verifiable premises, will make our industry a case study in the decarbonisation of agriculture.

Biodiversity Harnessing Nature’s wisdom

9. Douro Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea ssp amandiana) is found only in the Douro region. It grows on the large granite outcrops of Quinta do Vesúvio on its western side.

Following Spread: Camera installed at Quinta de Vale de Malhadas captures European Roe Deer.

Ecosystems, rich in biodiversity, are natural sources of the fundamental services sustaining life on Earth. They are crucial, especially for food production, climate regulation, disease protection, nutrient cycles, and oxygen production, among others. Our estates are mosaics of various coexisting ecosystems which we intend to protect and enrich through responsible intervention and the application of measures to enhance their ecological value. Approximately 32% of our properties, 804 hectares, consist of natural areas of Mediterranean forest, uncultivated, native shrubland and riparian vegetation.

One of our goals is to implement a biodiversity and ecosystem services management plan for each of our estates. To this end, we are engaged in an inventory of wild flora and fauna together with an assessment of habitat quality and the current state of landscape preservation. Our first appraisal of the flora and fauna both in wild and cultivated lands is currently taking place on the north bank of the Douro River on 470 hectares comprised by Quinta do Vesúvio and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas. Specialised biologists are searching for mammal, bird, insect and plant species that serve as indicators of the ecological quality and conservation status of the living habitats. Our intention is to build a knowledge base incorporating key ecosystem indicators, current practices, initiatives carried out, as well as new regulatory requirements. This will enable us to draw up evolutionary biodiversity profiles for each estate that are systematised and intercomparable. It will include important data both for strategic decision-making and sustainability reporting.

In the Alto Alentejo, Quinta da Fonte Souto, located at the foot of the Serra de São Mamede, has 100 hectares of forest covering approximately 48% of the property. Its peculiar geological and edaphoclimatic conditions contribute greatly to the richness of the flora, fauna, and habitats identified to date. Implementation of the estate's forest management plan has been ongoing since 2018. The 20-year programme includes measures underway that evidence sustainable management accounting of context-specific environmental, social, and economic conditions.

Biodiversity Commitments

I. Instituting a management plan for biodiversity and ecosystem services

haII. Quinta da Fonte Souto – the forest management plan to be complemented by the institution of certain requirements for gaining recognition of this property as a natural area for carbon removal

III. We promote annual initiatives in which volunteers carry out species inventories within our properties (Bioblitz)

Species of conservation interest or endemic species found at Quinta do Vesúvio and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas.

1. Digger Bees (Anthophora affinis)

2. Plain Dark Bees (Stelis phaeoptera)

3. Iberia Mason Bee (Osmia nasoproducta)

4. Douro Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea ssp amandiana)

5. Vine Stranglewort (Cynanchum acutum)

6. Water knotweed (Polygonum aquaticum)

7. Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura)

8. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

9. European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Patrimony Our passion for 140 years

Our wine cellars, offices and bottling centres are located in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gaia. In the Alentejo, Quinta da Fonte Souto lies within the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, part of the National Network of Protected Areas. We have also recently acquired Casa de Rodas, a magnificient property in the Vinho Verde Region with an iconic 17th-century manor house surrounded by 27 hectares of vines.

From the very beginning we have watched over our patrimony. Preserving such a wealth of built heritage requires the dedicated work of an internal team of architects and civil engineers who approach the renovation of each space from two angles: starting from a reading of the unique character of each place, they then seek innovative solutions, mainly with regard to efficient energy and water usage, while also designing for user comfort and convenience.

Every year, we compiles an extensive list of refurbishment and repurposing projects designed to enhance a wide range of infrastructures in myriad contexts extending from agricultural and industrial use to that of wine tourism.

We have been adapting our offices to new work trends. Smart technologies have been introduced in meeting rooms to allow everyone to participate with the same quality, whether remotely or in person. Due to the increase of open space offices, acoustic booths have been created to ensure both comfort and privacy.

Building maintenance takes up a significant proportion of our heritage management budget. Major investments have recently replaced the roofs of several historic wine cellars (lodges), resulting in significant gains in energy efficiency. Our bottling facilities have also been reroofed, leading to substantial improvements in thermal and acoustic comfort.

Each location tells a story to which we are constantly adding new chapters to keep it alive, current and integrated.

Low-impact Winery

In 2019, we drew up our sustainability strategy and set our 2025 goals, which included working toward the certification of the Ataíde winery in accordance with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) framework that is globally recognised for green, highly efficient and cost-controlled buildings.

The LEED v4 certification was a highly exciting goal, as it challenged us to design and build a winery that would become a case study for sustainability. Our objective, on the one hand, was to amplify the positive effects arising from a new activity while simultaneously mitigating any negative impacts of a new building at each construction stage and throughout its use.

The Ataíde winery was completed in time for the 2023 harvest and our winemakers are unanimous in stating that a new chapter has opened in Symington still wine production, which brings excellent quality grapes, cuttingedge technology, and careful environmental and social integration together.

Upon completing the construction of the new winery, we look forward to applying all the rigorous and holistic lessons we have learned from LEED in future projects.

WATER

Our new low-impact Ataíde winery

Low-impact Construction

Training of on-site teams addresses best occupational safety practices, environmental procedures and building site organisation.

Holistic Design

Landscape integration

The building's shape, location and green roof with a vegetal cover were designed to integrate into the natural landscape, amongst the organic vineyards.

Native vegetation Juniper, strawberry tree, hawthorn, rock rose, rosemary, holm, cork, and the Portuguese oak were all meticulously selected and placed around the building and are all fully adapted to the ecosystem.

Bioretention basins direct all on-site rainwater, including that falling on roofs and paths, so that it can soak into the ground without flowing off-site.

The green roof and façade extend over 2,700 m2 and consist of 15,000 plants of 28 different species, all of which germinated from locally gathered seeds.

Natural light and ventilation making use of 24 skylights that maintain light and ventilation levels above 70% in this northwest-facing building makes it sufficient to dispense with artificial lighting in the fermentation hall on most days.

Inventory management helps minimise stock overruns by avoiding returns using container deposit return schemes.

Materials to minimise environmental impact are carefully studied and selected taking a life- cycle approach.

Protection of surrounding areas from machinery movement, dust and effluents is prioritised to prevent soil erosion and reduce the negative impact of construction.

Reuse of building and demolition debris reduces both waste and demand for virgin materials.

Impact monitoring takes place from the beginning of construction, with monthly audits of monthly water, electricity, and fuel consumption, as well as all types of waste produced.

Refuse is identified, sorted, and stored by type to facilitate selective collection and recovery by waste management operators.

Thermal and acoustic insulation is ensured by double-walls in the barrel hall filled with rockwool. Isolsonic® block walls and rockwool ceilings serve to increase acoustic absorption.

Efficient Winemaking

Proximity to the vineyards means grape ripening is constantly monitored as is the rate of harvesting; the gap between picking and processing grapes is also shortened. New generation of chillers use R32 gas. This innovation in chillers considerably improves cooling capacity, providing 30% reduction in global warming potential relative to standard R410a powered machines.

An innovative air-mixing system provides total must pumping over (without the use of pumps). Injecting air creates a smooth and powerful wavelike movement that breaks up the cap.

Building centralised management system controls HVAC equipment as well as lighting, CO2 and humidity, while also monitoring energy and water use.

ENERGY

Thriving Community

Local economy we prioritize local purchasing and the use of local accommodation, catering, cleaning, as well as other regional businesses.

Attracting talent is supported by the fact that our winery draws specialists who identify with the company's values. A case study is provided of how a facility may constitute a regional asset due to its role in student training and development.

Job opportunities, both direct and indirect, are crucial in a region facing severe demographic pressure.

Sustainable wine tourism provides wine experiences that are immersed in the landscape, including trails and strategic lookout spots for observing wildlife.

B CORP Building a better future

‘We chose to become a B Corp because it’s the world’s most comprehensive sustainability certification. It demonstrates our dedication to continually improving the way we work and the impact on the world around us, from vineyard to bottle.'

Charlotte Symington Senior Marketing Manager

In today's world, the companies that are most likely to succeed are those that are committed to and nurture their local communities and ecosystems. The commitment to people and the planet is essential for businesses with a longterm mindset - it is one of our principles and one of the reasons why, as a wine company, we decided to become a B Corporation.

We have always been known for our caring attitude towards land, people and trading partners. Rob Symington, from the 5th generation of the family, joined the business in 2017, coming from a London business background where corporate social responsibility and sustainability had already gone hand in hand. Rob felt it was time for Symington to apply for B Corp certification. The main aim was to have an external assessment of the company that would not only include international standards, but also provide guidance on social and environmental best practice.

B Corp certification is given to companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. The certification is based not only on what the company produces or sells, but more importantly on how it operates. This means that a B Corp is evaluated based on its entire business model, its governance approach, including its mission to make a positive contribution to society with low environmental impact.

In 2019, we underwent an assessment that evaluated our company's performance in five categories: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. We performed very well in the Workers and Environment categories. The categories with greater scope for improvement were Governance and Community. As part of this, we have developed an action plan to improve our performance in all five categories, particularly in areas such as supply chain related topics.

We are currently in the final stages of the recertification process, which will be completed in January 2024. We are very pleased with the improvements we have already made in areas such as career development, customer stewardship, managers with mission responsibility, and many others.

Becoming a B Corporation has been a transformative experience for us. By embracing the B Corp framework, we have demonstrated that it is possible for businesses to be profitable while making a positive impact on the world.

Royal Warrant Responsible business network

13. Her Majesty the Queen, in the New Year Honours List 2013, awarded Johnny Symington the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire) for his services to Anglo-Portuguese relations and to the British community in the north of Portugal. Johnny received the award from Prince Charles in a ceremony held at Buckingham palace on February 1st, 2013.

Symington Family Estates has held a Royal Warrant of Appointment from Queen Elizabeth II for Graham’s Port since 2017, joining over 800 other holders.

The Royal Warrant of Appointment is a seal of approval from the British Royal Household and is awarded to companies, from individual artisans to global multinationals, that have a proven track record of quality and meet strict criteria for sustainability in the production of goods or services.

To become an official supplier to the British Royal Household, companies must undergo a rigorous assessment process, renewable every five years, which expects Royal Warrant holders to take a responsible approach to sustainability issues. Companies should understand the environmental and social impacts of their operations and do what they can to manage them. Depending on the nature of the business, this can cover a wide range of issues, including the use of renewable natural resources, raw material extraction, supply chain management and traceability, waste minimisation, fair treatment of people and animal welfare standards.

The Royal Warrant of Appointment for Graham's Port is a recognition by the British Royal Household of our commitment to producing ports of excellent quality, in accordance with the principles of sustainability and respect for ancestral tradition and culture.

iv.i.

iv.ii.

iv.iii.

iv.iv.

iv.iv.i

iv.iv.ii

iv.iv.iii

When individuals work together for the wider good they become a community. In the EARTH section of the report we focus on the various communities, both within and outside our company, and show how they form a collaborative whole where strong connections and relationships are prized and nurtured. The fast-paced nature of change with its accompanying challenges means that we must continue working together more than ever before.

People A collective echo

We

believe that sustainability starts at home and is reflected in the balanced relationships we foster with our employees. This nurturing and healthy approach enables a sustainable working environment where employees feel valued and supported, and in turn can offer the same attitude to clients and partners.

80%

Overal

We have a strong commitment to the health and safety of our employees. With our own health and safety technical team, we manage an occupational health and safety system that is third-party certified to the ISO 45001 standard. This is achieved through a health and safety policy, employee health and safety training, comprehensive safety risk assessments, internal and external audits, annual safety perception surveys, among other aspects. Due to the seasonal nature of some activities, special attention is given to the prevention of safety incidents by reinforcing the training of temporary workers. In terms of occupational health, a qualified medical team provides occupational and curative medical services to all employees. Employees are monitored through routine and occasional consultations and examinations, as well as additional visits to the workplace to carry out health risk assessments.

In the area of employee engagement and satisfaction, we have implemented several strategies to promote our people-centric approach. Flexi-time and telecommuting are work flexibility options that allow employees to adapt their working patterns and create a more flexible working environment. This initiative also encourages healthier lifestyles by promoting environmentally friendly options such as public transport, cycling and walking to work. We value the career development of our employees by conducting performance reviews, encouraging internal promotions and hiring for advanced positions, facilitating external professional development opportunities and subsidising continuing education. This approach creates a more supportive and positive working environment where employees feel motivated to develop their skills and careers within the company.

3 400 Total Hours

7 755h

Total

33 Work injuries

28 Injury frequency rate

per

In 2023, we challenged Porto Business School to develop a training programme focused on employee development. Both believe that training is a strategic tool to our growth and for talent retention. The UP GRAPEGenerations Rising Abilities Performance Evolution - programme has been designed to offer a variety of training sessions, workshops and courses to ensure that employees have access to the latest industry developments and are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their roles.

We also believe that a robust organisational matrix, supported by a systematic job evaluation and qualification process, is key to ensure that all positions are evaluated fairly and consistently, leading to a more equitable compensation structure, which is critical to employee satisfaction and retention, as well as creating the basis for effective succession planning.

We are currently embarking on a review of our organisational matrix and job evaluation process, which are critical to optimising our organisational structure, enhancing employee performance and ensuring long-term success. By mapping the skills and competencies required for each role, we will be able to identify and develop internal talent for strategic positions and ensure a smooth transition of leadership.

Our approach to people and culture values equity, inclusion and diversity, creating a cohesive business community and ensuring that kindness and support are 'paid forward'.

Growers

& Suppliers

Strong relationships

‘Miguel has been a huge help. He knows the Douro very well and what we are struggling with. We have practical experience, he gives us technical knowledge. Symington did the right thing because we needed it!’

70%

Of

Significant suppliers evaluated for their social and environmental impact

The sound basis of any business is closely linked to the commercial relations between suppliers and buyers. We believe that trust is a determining condition for lasting business relationships. It was on the basis of trust that commercial relations were born in the Douro, between grape growers and port wine producers. Deals were always closed with a word and a handshake. Even today, no contracts are signed. Instead, we depend on relationships going back decades into the past, relationships which have turned into closeness and friendship.

Every year we buy from more than 1000 farmers, the vast majority of whom are small winegrowers, with vineyards less than 3 hectares in size, oftentimes, elderly. However, their economic situation has become more and more precarious in recent decades, which is even more problematic in those cases where grape sales make up a significant portion of their livelihood.

Farmers

With this in mind, our port wine grape purchasing policy does not merely set grape quality criteria, but it also guarantees fair pay, in line with market prices, as well as offering premiums for exceptional quality fruit. We finance transport costs to our wineries and offer the possibility of advance payment months before the harvest, in addition to managing the administrative aspects of procurement.

Moreover, since 2016, we have a dedicated viticulture specialist to support our farmers, to aid vineyard management, and to raise awareness regarding best agricultural practices. We depend tremendously on the grapes we buy and therefore want to ensure growers’ best environmental performance. In the future, we will be organising individual sessions with growers seeking to identify opportunities for improving sustainable practices. In the first phase, we hope to reach producers equivalent to 50% of our grape purchases.

On the manufacturing side, similarly long commercial relations are the case, namely with cork, glass, and wine spirits sectors—in other words, our most critical suppliers.

We hold the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)'s BRCGS certification for food safety. This certificate guarantees that the management of the safety, integrity, legality and quality of our food products are closely monitored throughout our value chain.

To this effect, we have implemented a procedure for evaluating our high-risk suppliers, which consists of audits covering quality, food safety, fraud and food defence, as well as a survey of environmental practices and employee health and safety. This assessment will soon be altered to include general sustainability principles. We will then be able to characterise each supplier's behaviour in these areas. Indicators such as internal policies, local proximity, impact on the community, responsible purchasing, carbon footprint, among others, will be contemplated. This will extend the need for responsible management throughout our value chain.

It is important to us that our suppliers share our climate agenda. To this end, the sustainability question was the focus of our 2019 forum for packaging suppliers where we outlined our goals, main concerns, and the basic principles in creating low-impact packaging.

We are committed to a strong supply chain that is fully committed to the climate transition, seeking to reduce environmental impacts and social imbalances.

Consumers

Conscious choices

We like to think that our wines speak for us. They are ambassadors of an unparalleled natural and cultural heritage.

We are therefore committed to creating a product with a cultural identity of exceptional quality, the added value of which comes from our care for people and the promotion of a prosperous and sustainable local economy. We believe that consumer protection starts with a transparent, robust and reliable information model. To this end, each wine label identifies the producer, the origin of the component materials, allergenic substances and alcohol content. It also identifies risk groups, including pregnant women and children under 18, among other information. Our labels are currently being reformulated to comply with new labelling legislation, which requires additional useful consumer information such as ingredients, nutritional information and environmental data on the composition and final destination of packaging. Smart communication tools, such as the QR code, make it possible to update label information without wasting material.

Communication channels have also been established to respond effectively and in a timely manner to all stakeholders on all issues relating to quality, food safety, food fraud, ethics and civil liability. Formalised channels include: 1) a customer complaint system; 2) a 24-hour product recall line for critical food safety cases; and 3) a channel for reporting irregularities and non-compliance with laws, regulations and company standards and for ensuring whistleblower protection.

We recognise our key role in promoting responsible and moderate wine consumption. We therefore support initiatives aimed at reducing the risks to consumer health and safety posed by excessive consumption. We are committed to advocating the consumption of wine as part of a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle - recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - characterised by moderate consumption of wine during meals.

Funding positive impact

‘For over 140 years my family has been committed to the region where we live, and as part of the fifth generation I am passionate about preserving the Douro’s uniqueness and beauty for future generations. Our Impact Fund is an important initiative that aims to help sustain the Douro’s amazing heritage and contribute to local communities and safeguard a remarkable culture.’

Vicky Symington, Graham’s Brand Manager

The Symington Impact Fund was launched in 2020 with €1 million to support social, cultural and environmental initiatives in the regions where we work. The funds will primarily be used for community wellbeing and health, environmental conservation, cultural heritage and education. Community support initiatives include providing ambulances and fire engines to local volunteer emergency services. To date, we have donated 17 vehicles, covering all the towns and villages where we operate.

We are long-term supporters of Bagos d'Ouro - a Douro-based charity that promotes the education of disadvantaged children and young people in the Douro as a means of social inclusion in the Douro region. Bagos d'Ouro develops personalised work with each child and young person they support. They try to follow the educational, social and family path of these children in order to integrate them into active life. (Read more about Bagos d'Ouro in the following article.)

106 000€

Each year we offer two scholarships to students enrolled in either the Oenology or Agricultural Engineering courses at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) in Vila Real. The scholarships, which cover all tuition fees for three years, will be awarded to one student who lacks the financial means to pay for the course and one student who has demonstrated academic excellence. We are committed to supporting the next generation of local winemakers and viticulturists, whose work is so vital to the future of the Douro.

To support the protection of the environment and ecosystems, since 2011 we have been supporting the Vila Real University (UTAD) Wildlife Rescue Centre (Centro de Recuperação de Animais Selvagens, CRAS). This specialised centre is unique in Portugal and has an international reputation. It nurses hundreds of injured birds and other animals back to health every year and has released several species of birds of prey in our Douro vineyards in recent years.

Since 2018, one of our most famous port brands, Graham's, has been associated with The Ocean Cleanup, a not-for-profit organisation that develops and scales technologies to clean up 90% of floating plastic pollution in the oceans. For every Graham's Bag-for-Life sold, we donate 1 euro to The Ocean Cleanup. Every Graham's bag plays its small part in protecting the environment by reducing the amount of single-use plastic bags and helping to protect the oceans.

5. Vicky Symington and Charlotte Symington, 5th generation of working family members.

In 2020, we have partnered with Rewilding Portugal to actively support their mission to restore wildlife and help local economies based on endogenous products thrive by promoting business development synergies. (Read more about this partnership in the Rewilding Portugal article.)

Bagos d'Ouro

Seeds of tomorrow

‘It is always with pride and responsibility that we look back each year. With pride, because we are doing silent but profound work in a region that is so 'photogenic' and at the same time so forgotten, so distant. With responsibility, because the path we've taken so far makes us realise that we can really change lives through education.’

Maria Inês Taveira, General Coordinator of Bagos d'Ouro

6. 'Bagos d’Ouro is important to me because it made me improve my grades and study more. In my Commitment I promised that I would raise my grades and spend more time studying. tried to fulfil this, and succeeded'.

Bagos d'Ouro began with a dream. A dream of a fairer society, a more balanced, more equitable and above all, a more inclusive region. Where all children would have the same opportunities. Where new generations could play an active role in breaking the cycle of poverty and social exclusion through EDUCATION, "the most powerful weapon to change the world".

Bagos d'Ouro is an entirely private social solidarity institution, founded in 2010 with the mission of promoting the education of children and young people in the Douro region who live in situations of economic and social deprivation, as a means of social inclusion in the region.

Since its foundation, we have been associated with the development of Bagos D'Ouro, supporting the extension of its activities to more communities and more children and young people. Today, Bagos D'Ouro's work covers seven municipalities in the region, tackling social inequalities and supporting the education and academic careers of more than 200 children and young people.

We fully identify with Bagos D'Ouro's mission because we believe that if every child learns to value their region, they will be active agents of change in the future. Like us, they will work for the development of a more just and cohesive Douro region.

Rewilding Portugal

Making Portugal a wilder place

'Symington's decision to partner with Rewilding was a decisive vote of confidence. We acknowledged that Rewilding was still in the early stages of establishment and had not yet proven its worth but appreciated Symington's willingness to take a chance on us.'

Pedro Prata Rewilding Portugal Team Leader

Rewilding is a private, non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems and wildlife. Since its foundation in Portugal, Rewilding is leading a pioneering conservation project in a 120,000-hectare wildlife corridor in the Greater Côa Valley in northern Portugal, a region where high rates of land abandonment have created opportunities based on rewilding principles. They have also worked closely with local communities and associations to address the threats of rural depopulation and economic downturn in the region.

A few months after Rewilding was established in Portugal, we launched our Impact Fund, which is dedicated exclusively to funding non-profit and sustainable initiatives. As we share the same vision, it was a natural step for us to partner with Rewilding. We recognised the value of using innovative land-use models to develop sustainable growth that benefits local businesses and is actively involved in restoring the conditions for wildlife to thrive. Rewilding also focuses on educating and raising awareness about the importance of conservation and the impact of our actions on the environment.

Our partnership focuses on three areas: protecting and restoring natural habitats,

supporting sustainable development, and promoting the cultural heritage of the region. We are very pleased to share that this journey with Rewilding has been a great reward for us. We have not only gained knowledge about how to best nurture biodiversity in our lands, but also the gratification of seeing the positive impact of Rewilding's work in remote areas in terms of real and effective wildlife restoration initiatives. This has been achieved by working closely with local businesses to establish links and commercial synergies between small producers and vendors.

Altano Rewilding Edition

To celebrate our partnership, we produced a limited edition of our Altano wine, sourced from higher altitude Douro vineyards to produce a fresh, elegant and fruit-driven profile. We launched a bag-in-tube edition of this wine, which has a lower carbon footprint. Compared to the equivalent volume of wine in a 75cl bottle, our bagin-tube is estimated to emit 19% less CO2. The label illustrates various examples of native wildlife found in northern Portugal. With every wine sold, the consumer makes a financial contribution to conservation efforts in northern Portugal.

Portuguese Fire Brigade

And finally, two donations outside the Douro region Portalegre and Vila Nova de Gaia.

2006 – Alijó

2007 – Pinhão

2009 – S. João da Pesqueira

2010 – Provesende

2011 – Carrazeda de Ansiães

2012 – Lamego

2013 – Régua

2014 – Vila Nova de Foz Côa

2015 – Tabuaço

2016 – Vila Flor

2017 – Sabrosa

2018 – Sanfins do Douro

2019 – Torre de Moncorvo

2020 – Portalegre

2021 – Vila Real

2022 – Pinhão

2023 – Vila Nova de Gaia

Volunteer firefighters represent one of the noblest causes in our society. We are very proud of their spirit of volunteerism, sacrifice, generosity and selflessness in carrying out a public mission of a humanitarian nature.

We recognise the fundamental role that fire brigades play in ensuring the safety of the population. It is for this reason that we decided in 2006 to support all the organisations closest to us by providing them with increased means of support. In 2023, we donated our 17th emergency vehicle to the Coimbrões Volunteer Fire Brigade, located near to our facilities in Vila Nova de Gaia. We also involve these organisations in the implementation of measures to ensure the safety of our people and facilities. To this end, we have signed cooperation protocols aimed at training our first intervention and first aid teams, carrying out evacuation and fire drills, as well as providing technical advice on self-protection measures.

In this way, we hope to contribute to improving the welfare of local populations and to the prevention and management of forest fires, which are fundamental elements of a safer and more resilient community.

B Kind

The power of sharing

Our volunteering programme, was launched in 2021 as a channel for employees to find organisations where they can volunteer.

Social Causes

• Sport tournaments - Porta Solidária

• Blood and bone marrow donation - IPST

• Christmas baskets - Porto Solidário

• Meal preparation - Porta Solidária

Charity

• Donation of goods for humanitarian aid - Porto Solidário

• Fundraising to support people with disabilities - CERCIS

Environment

• Beach clean-ups - Águas de

Gaia

• Forest clean-ups Rewilding

Portugal

• Bioblitz - Rewilding Portugal

8. Volunteering with Junior Achievement Portugal. Junior Achievement Portugal is the Portuguese counterpart of Junior Achievement, the largest and oldest worldwide organisation dedicated to education for entrepreneurship, inspiring and preparing children and young people to succeed in a global economy through the promotion of citizenship and financial literacy, education for entrepreneurship and employment capabilities.

9. Our teams on a Bioblitz day with Rewilding team in Ribeira do MosteiroGreater Côa Valley.

Children

• Promoting entrepreneurship among young people - Junior Achievement Portugal

• Promotion of solidarity campaigns Porto Solidário

Animal Welfare

• Donation and animal welfare; assistance - AANIFEIRA

This programme is in line with our strategy to strengthen our relationship with the communities in which we operate, with the aim of involving 80% of our employees in our volunteering programme by 2025.

By giving back to the community, we promote a culture of circular kindness. The importance of welfare and happiness cannot be overstated and that it contributes to a more sustainable future. We strive to make a positive impact on the communities and ecosystems in which we operate, and we are committed to doing so for generations to come.

FIRE is light and intensity and a symbol of creative thinking, inspiration and courage - all characteristics that are essential in making a difference. That is why, in the final section, we will showcase initiatives that can be the seed of game-changing metamorphosis. We believe that Portugal has huge untapped potential as a wine-producing country – we are determined to be at the forefront of strengthening its reputation on the world stage.

'O Douro merece melhor'

There is no longer any such thing as hermit companies that live disconnected from their surroundings, their community and their influence. Less and less do we hear the expression 'We have to paddle our own canoe' at board meetings. Instead, it is becoming obvious that no business can achieve long-term success without that of its relevant stakeholders, particularly those of the surrounding community.

We believe it is possible to strike a virtuous balance between economic success and positive impact on the environment and people. That is why Symington has adopted a set of objectives based on three pillars: reacting to shared environmental challenges, being at the forefront of sustainable innovation, and caring for our people and local communities. Focusing on this last pillar leads us to several relevant and particularly challenging secondary objectives, including being an excellent employer, creating opportunities for the next generation and, finally, advocating for the economic security of our local communities.

This is one of our core concerns. The reason is simple: our estates are only capable of supplying a fraction of our grape needs, and it is not desirable to increase this proportion. That is why a broad base of professional farmers operating in a sustainably profitable manner will always be necessary.

Over the last 20 years, important changes have impacted the Douro Demarcated Region, namely the structural decline in port wine sales by volume, the concentration of distribution channels and the rise in their negotiating power, the exit of multinationals from the sector and, on a positive note, the significant increase in Douro still wine sales. This has all taken place without any meaningful alteration in the legal operating framework for the sector since the 1930s. A compounding factor is the systematic over production, particularly that of grapes destined for Douro still wines, which has significantly lowered agricultural incomes to levels approximating unsustainability.

This is the context behind the ‘O Douro Merece Melhor’ initiative, which, although completely independent of Symington as a company, has enjoyed the close involvement of several members of the family and senior management. The petition aimed to raise the attention not only of the general public but particularly that of the authorities to the urgent need for profound reforms in the industry, especially regarding its regulatory dimension.

The impact of the petition has been unequivocal. The highest national authorities have become aware of the sector's concerns, which have been widely discussed, both inside and outside the region. Some consensus has been achieved concerning the urgent need for decision-making regarding the structural resolution of the problems identified.

GRI

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an independent international organisation, provides sustainability reporting standards covering economic, environmental and social performance.

The GRI Standards are the most widely used sustainability reporting standards in the world. They cover environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use and waste management, as well as people-related impacts such as labour practices, human rights and community engagement.

In this report, we have already started the reporting process by aligning our sustainability performance indicators with the GRI standards. As endorsed by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), the use of GRI standards is a good way to meet the requirements of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and thus the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

standards

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

2022 | 2023

Edition 1

PUBLISHER

Symington Family Estates

www.symington.com

Symington Family Estates, Vinhos, SA

Travessa Barão de Forrester, 86

4400-034 Vila Nova de Gaia Portugal

T. + 351 223 776 300

E. symington@symington.com Insta. @SymingtonFamilyEstates

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Editors

Marta Mendes

Miguel Potes

Content

Marta Mendes

Alexandre Melo

Design Mesh Agency

PRINTING

Printer Gráfica Maiadouro, S.A.

Print Run 45 English Deposito legal 476162/20

Paper Stock: Materica Verdigris - Fedrigoni

Pulp-coloured paper a made with 40% CTMP fibres, 25% pure environmentally friendly fibres, 20% recycled material and 15% cotton fibres;

& Freelife Cento Extra White - Fedrigoni

High quality recycled paper with a smooth finish, made with 100% FSC® certified recycled fibers.

Elemental Chlorine Free

Acid Free

January 2024 @

Symington Family Estates

Writers

Rob Symington

Johnny Symington

Rupert Symington

Charles Symington

Harry Symington

Charlotte Symington

Vicky Symington

António Filipe

Fernando Alves

José Maria Côrte-Real

Special thanks to

Maria Inês Taveira – Bagos D’Ouro

Pedro Prata – Rewilding Portugal

Carlos Manuel Faria

Photography

Álvaro Martino, Adriano Ferreira Borges, António Chaves, António Luís Campos, Fernando Alves, Filipe Braga, Francisco Soares, Foto Bento, João Ferreira, João Margalha, João Pedro Marnoto, Joana Dionísio, Juan Carlos Munõz, Luís Filipe Catarino, Manuel Teixeira, Marta Mendes, Miguel Potes, Sandra Ribeiro, Tiago Fernandes, British Ceremonial Arts Limited.