Phil is head ‘wine-grower’ and creator of the Vilafonté vineyard which he calls “Different by Design”.

Phil spent 13 years as Robert Mondavi’s Vice-President of Wine Growing. Phil designed the first Opus One vineyards, and initiated the remote sensing project with NASA that has spawned a new wave of tools for viticulture analysis and quality enhancement. Subsequently, he established his own Viticulture Practice, and in the last decade has consulted to some of California’s best, including Cakebread, Far Niente, Seghesio, and Robert Mondavi’s Byron Winery. Important to his understanding of South African terroir has been his vineyard consulting work with key wineries there, including Warwick, Rustenberg, Thelema and De Wetshof.

Phil is responsible for the strategic direction of all Vilafonté wine-growing and vineyard development operations.