Remembering Sommelier Bruno Almeida

The wine world recently lost one of our shining stars, sommelier Bruno Almeida. A passionate champion of wines from his native Portugal, Bruno was a beloved member of the NYC wine community.

In addition to his long tenure as the sommelier at Tocqueville restaurant, Bruno was an award-winning wine educator and led seminars in NY and beyond. Bruno was also a savvy content creator and grew a loyal following on Instagram with his prolific interviews of winemakers. Bruno's last IG post was about Black History Month, and he wrote, "I raise my glass to all inspiring trailblazers and brilliant minds across the four corners of the Earth. Lift! Educate! Celebrate!" and "Diversity is key" as he raises a glass and winks at the camera.

I enjoyed interviewing Bruno and tasting with him over the years. Our conversations often went beyond wine; he especially loved talking about his son Alex.

Bruno, you will be missed. I’ll raise a glass of Portuguese wine in your memory.

P.S. - A memorial fundraiser has been established for Bruno.