THE VIGNERON
After being nicknamed “flying winemaker” by the Portuguese press, Rui Reguinga ended up settling in Alto Alentejo, more precisely in the heart of the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, to dedicate himself to each single detail of Terrenus.
Rui Reguinga is one of the most renowned Portuguese winemakers, recognized for his mastery and dedication to the terroir. His intense and extensive work earned him the award of “Winemaker of the Year” by Revista de Vinhos in 2009, in addition to the countless medals and distinctions won by his wines. He has also been a member of the jury in several editions of prestigious competitions like the International Wine Challenge, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles or Decanter World Wine Awards.
He was born in 1966, in Almeirim, Ribatejo, in a family with roots in the world of vineyard and wine. Son and grandson of winegrowers, he grew up with the dream of pursuing a career in the area. This vocation took shape when he graduated in Food Engineering from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia in Lisbon, then held a postgraduate degree in Wine Marketing at the Catholic University of Porto and a specialization in “Dégustation des Vins” from the University of Bordeaux.
“For me, the ideal concept would be organic grapes and technological winery. Even considering the creativity, we cannot neglect the technical component of the winemaker’s work, because if we stumble over failures we never get to enjoy the essence of wine.”
Rui Reguinga made an internship in 1990 in the Champagne region and, shortly after, started his career as an assistant winemaker of João Portugal Ramos. In the year 2000, he created his own consulting company, which allowed him to develop projects in several Portuguese regions: Douro, Dão, Beira Interior, Ribatejo, Lisboa, Península de Setúbal, Alentejo and Madeira. His profound knowledge of terroirs made him the pioneer Portuguese winemaker in international consultancies in countries like Brazil, Argentina and Sri Lanka. The intense international activity earned him the title of “flying winemaker” in the Portuguese press.
Today, Rui Reguinga is responsible for several successful projects and partnerships in Portugal and around the world. But it’s to the creation of his own wines that dedicates the greatest attention always aiming to design authentic wines that reflect the entire profile and potential of the terroir that gives rise to them.
