Hermínio Fernandes Rebelo, oenologist, sommelier and trainer, died this Sunday, June 18th, in Portimão, aged 86.
The Algarve Tourism Board, in a note of condolence published on its Facebook page, regrets the death of Hermínio Rebelo, considering him “one of the greatest ambassadors of Algarve Wines and author of the first wine guides edited with great success by RTA ».
Hermínio Rebelo «maintained a strong connection to the region’s hotels, where he exercised with recognized expertise in the field of food and beverage, mentored the Sommelier course at the School of Hospitality and Tourism in Portimão, Sommelier-Major Taster at the Confraria dos Oenophiles and Gastronomists of the Algarve and an assiduous presence at tourism fairs, promoting the tourist offer of the Algarve».
The RTA also pays «its heartfelt homage to this inspiring professional, who greatly enhanced tourism in the region».
The Portimão School of Hospitality and Tourism, where Hermínio Rebelo was a trainer for decades, has also reacted to his death, remembering him as an «exceptional educator».
«He was a remarkable man whose impact in the field of hotel and tourism education will never be forgotten. While we mourn his departure, it is imperative to recognize and celebrate his indelible contribution to the Portimão School of Hospitality and Tourism », emphasizes the EHT.
Hermínio Rebelo «was one of the first trainers at this school, having joined its staff in 1971 as a Restaurant Coordinator Trainer and provided service until 2010, when he retired».
He was also, according to the EHT of Portimão, «a true visionary, a selfless and passionate educator who dedicated his life to the development and improvement of human resources for the hotel and tourism sector, namely in the art of Table Service and in the world of Oenology and Enogastronomy».
«His inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to excellence left an indelible mark on those lucky enough to know him and learn from him», adds that School.
Through his entrepreneurial initiative, he «played a fundamental role in promoting local and regional gastronomy, having been the mentor, through the EHT of Portimão, of several Gastronomic Festivals, contributing to the appreciation and promotion of gastronomy with repercussions on the local economy».
Tirelessly dedicated to Oenology and Enogastronomy, he was, at the Portimão EHT, «the driver and main person responsible for starting the Sommelier training courses. He contributed, in this sense, to the training and preparation of several students who today are nationally and internationally recognized Sommeliers ».
He was also «one of the main promoters and facilitators of the “renaissance” of wines from the Algarve region in the 90s of the last century».
Family source told Sul Informação that Hermínio Rebelo was born in Luso, having arrived in the Algarve in 1965, after having passed through Termas de Monfortinho, Coimbra and Lisbon, where he worked in restaurants.
In the Algarve, he settled in Portimão, having started by working at the restaurant “Pescador”.
When Hotel Penina buys this restaurant, Hermínio Rebelo starts working at this 5-star hotel, the first to be created in the Algarve, where he is promoted to head waiter at the hotel's restaurant. It is in this role that he watches Beatle Paul McCartney pass by the hotel bar, where he plays with the local band, Jota Herre.
Later, the Sheraton Madeira will open.
In 1971, he returned to Portimão, joining the staff of the School of Hospitality and Tourism, where he trained several generations of sommeliers and future hospitality professionals.
In the middle (1973/75), during the holidays, he returned to Luso, to work at the Grande Hotel do Luso, where he even served the then recently sworn in President António de Spínola.
Since he already had a taste for politics before the 25th of April 1974, after the Carnation Revolution he joined the Socialist Party. In December 1976, in the first municipal elections, he was elected to the Municipal Assembly of Portimão, a position he would hold continuously until 2005, always representing the PS.
Another of his passions was football. That is why, in the early 80s, he joined the management of Portimonense Sporting Club, where he became responsible for senior football.
Together with Mira Pacheco and chaired by manuel joao, Portimonense reaches 5th place in the 1st Division National Championship and, with that, access to the UEFA Cup, in the 1984/1985 season. He will remain in charge of the club for 21 years.
At the invitation of the Algarve Tourism Board, he writes and organizes the “Algarve Wine Guides”, with two editions in 2009 and 2014. of the Confraria dos Oenophiles and Gastronomers of the Algarve.
Since 2003, he has been a speaker in a series of lectures all over the country, as well as in Spain and France. He is also invited to give technical Oenology classes at the Portimão Campus at the University of Algarve.
After the reform, civil society awarded him with several honors. In 2011, the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Portimão created the Hermínio Rebelo Gastronomic Festival. The Portimão City Council awarded him the Silver Medal and Merit Diploma, while the Rotary Club awarded him the Career Award and Diploma.
He also participated, in 2014, in the candidacy committee that led to the Assembly of the Republic, the Mediterranean Diet as a UNESCO heritage.
According to the family, the funeral will take place tomorrow (20th), at 14 pm, in the church of Portimão, from where the coffin will proceed to the city cemetery.
Note: Updated at 19:00, adding information about funeral ceremonies.
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