Bio
Sergio Ramos was born and raised in Mineola, Long Island, a community densely populated with individuals of Portuguese descent. Of Portuguese and Brazilian heritage himself, Sergio's life was molded by the cultural richness his upbringing offered.
Leaving behind the music industry for a career in wine, Sergio brings a depth of knowledge that began to develop with his appreciation for the many Long Island vineyards he would visit.
After relocating to North Carolina, he officially transitioned his passion for wine into a career, teaching wine classes and holding tastings throughout the Triangle through his work at local wine shops. In the summer of 2017, Sergio received his CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) from the Society of Wine Educators.
Sergio spent over two years at Bar Brunello in Durham, NC. With owner Esteban Brunello, whom he credits as being his mentor, the two pushed the wine envelope, showcasing a list of over 860 bottles and 48 wines by the glass. Focusing on low intervention and biodynamic wine producers, Bar Brunello was at the forefront, introducing many to varietals and styles they may have otherwise overlooked.
Sergio’s tenure there brought him in contact with numerous importers, distributors, and NC winemakers. This only fueled his excitement further about both international and local wines. Alongside the team at plēb urban winery out of Asheville, Sergio and Esteban released one of North Carolina’s first expressions of Orange/Amber wine, using only estate grapes grown in Western North Carolina.
Looking ahead, Sergio is working to become a certified specialist of Portuguese wines and dreams of becoming an importer who brings the taste of the fine wines of Portugal to our community.