Gareth Ferreira, an award-winning Master Sommelier brings over a decade of expertise to the hospitality industry. Currently steering the beverage program at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Core by Clare Smyth, Gareth made history in 2021 as the 270th Master Sommelier worldwide.
Foundations at 67 Pall Mall: Revolutionizing Wine-Focused Clubs
Before his tenure at Core, Gareth served as the assistant head sommelier and played a pivotal role in launching the revolutionary wine-centric private members club, 67 Pall Mall, under the mentorship of Ronan Sayburn MS. His global career includes prestigious positions at top-tier hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Naples in Florida, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, and The Saxon Hotel in South Africa, where he served as Head Sommelier and Beverage Manager.
Awards and Accolades: Celebrating Excellence
Gareth's accolades include the title of Best Sommelier of South Africa in 2016, victory at the U.K. Ruinart Sommelier Challenge the same year, and multiple appearances as a finalist at the U.K. Sommelier of the Year in 2017, 2019, and 2021. He represented South Africa at the 2016 A.S.I. Best Sommelier of The World competition in Mendoza, achieving semi-final qualification and finishing among the world's top 15 sommeliers.
In addition to holding a diploma in tourism, Gareth is a certified Master Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) and holds a gold-level certification for the A.S.I. sommelier diploma. Beyond his personal achievements, Gareth actively contributes to the industry as a regular judge at prestigious wine competitions, including the Decanter World Wine Awards, and serves as an educator with the Court of Master Sommeliers.
