Wine and Hospitality
André Figuinha is currently a professional sommelier who was distinguished in 2019 as 'Sommelier of the Year' by Mesa Marcada and also in the same year by Grandes Escolhas magazine. The year 2021 also brought him the distinction awarded by the 'Académie International de la Gastronomie' with the 'Prix au Sommelier'.
Born in Lisbon, André Figuinha didn't always dream of becoming a sommelier. With a strong passion for surfing, which he still holds today, he saw his profession being in electronics. At the end of the 90s, and after dropping out of a university course in management informatics, and by chance, he dedicated himself to the restaurant industry.
Career Path
He studied several languages, took the sommelier course in Estoril, attended specialized wine courses, among others. He worked on cruises with Pincess Cruises where he got to know and experienced a different reality outside of Portugal.
He owned his own restaurant, worked with several restaurant groups, and collaborated with renowned chefs in Lisbon.
He was Head Sommelier at the Altis Hotels group at the Feitoria restaurant, which has a Michelin star, and later was Director of Operations at Grupo Paradigma. He is currently a consultant, trainer, and brand ambassador.
Future
Full of ideas and ambition, with over 20 years in the profession and still feeling he has a long way to go, he embraces several projects. He provides wine training, consulting, leads guided wine tastings, and conducts training for front-of-house teams.
Disciplined and determined, he enjoys sharing his experiences with wine lovers in a simple and relaxed way. Finding the balance between the wine, the history, and the emotion are the perfect daily combinations for the challenge.
This is where he finds his true life's passion: wine and hospitality!
ANDRÉ · THIS MONTH