Gareth Ferreira is an internationally renowned Master Sommelier and Beverage Director of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Core by Clare Smyth in London. Originally from South Africa, he was the first in his country to earn the prestigious title of Master Sommelier and has had a long career in the wine world, working in the world's finest restaurants and hotels.
Gareth began his career in the restaurant and hospitality industry working in luxury hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton Naples in Florida, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and the Saxon Hotel in South Africa. During these years, he developed a deep interest in the world of wine, which led him to become one of the most respected sommeliers on the international scene. Ferreira then worked at the famous 67 Pall Mall in London, an exclusive club for wine lovers, where he contributed to the success of the project under the direction of Ronan Sayburn.
Since 2017, he has held the position of beverage director at Core by Clare Smyth, a renowned London restaurant with three Michelin stars. In this role, he is responsible for the management and selection of wines for the restaurant, as well as leading the team of sommeliers. With his experience, he has curated a wine list that ranges from international excellence to a wide selection of South African U2B labels.
In 2016, he won the title of Best Sommelier of South Africa, an accolade that allowed him to represent the country at the Best Sommelier of the World competition in Mendoza, Argentina, where he was ranked among the top 15 in the world. After years of study and testing, Ferreira was awarded the title of Master Sommelier in 2021, becoming the first South African to receive this certification.
Today, in addition to his role at Core, Gareth is a respected judge at wine competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards. His passion for South African wines has led him to include a selection of over 60 labels from his homeland on Core's wine list, not to mention his love of Burgundy wines.
