George Sandeman

Born in London, George Sandeman studied at Ampleforth College in England and began his journey in the wine business in 1971. He worked in production, export, and administration at The House of Sandeman before joining Seagram’s team in New York in 1980.

For ten years, he was responsible for a range of wine brands, including the FMCG Black Tower and Partager, as well as imported and Californian wines. He rose to the position of Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, overseeing a prestigious portfolio of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne wines.

In 1991, he was appointed Managing Director and Chairman of The House of Sandeman, assuming responsibility for the global strategy and rebranding of the Sandeman brand.

Following the acquisition of The House of Sandeman in 2002, he joined the Board of Directors of Sogrape Vinhos, with a mandate to establish a Public Affairs division. From 2009 to 2017, he led Sogrape Vinhos’ public relations efforts, focusing on corporate reputation and brand communication.

George Sandeman has played a significant institutional role in both the European and Portuguese wine sectors. In 2015, he was honored by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) with the Merit Award.

With over 40 years of experience across various roles in the wine trade, in 2021 George embarked on a new venture aptly named EX AMPULLA — Latin for “out of the bottle.”