António Lopes
Portugal Ambassador
sommantoniolopes
António's interest in wine started back in 2008, when, after finishing an internship in hospitality and management and having started his professional career, he had the opportunity to work alongside sommelier Paulo Duarte, at Vila Vita Parc. After that, he went to the Gleneagles in Scotland and worked as a bar and wine server, and there he developed his knowledge about both wine and spirits.
After a sommelier course, and after passing through some other restaurants, he went to Algarve to be part of the team that opened Conrad Algarve. As head sommelier, he was responsible for preparing the restaurant's wine list and for the wine service concept. In 2014, António was part of the project Taste Portugal, and he was also named Sommelier of the Year by Revista Wine.
In 2015, he won the award for Best Wine Service by Revista Wine and also the Art of Service Award by the International Gastronomic Academy. In 2017 he worked as wine director in the luxurious group Minor, at the Hotel Anantara Vilamoura, where he created the entire wine concept, as well as the menu that later won the Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator.
Today António works with Revista de Vinhos, as well as giving wine and service training and also consulting for restaurants, producers, wine shops, etc.