SakeMico

The Team

PARTNERS

Izumi Tezuka, Founding Partner of SakeMico and an SSA Certified Sake Sommelier with 15+ years experience working in Japanese Izakaya style restaurants. She has had the priviledge of working alongside some of the most reknown figures in the industry through the sake boom in NYC. She relocated to Portugal in 2014 where she started a sake import and distribution business with founding partner Francis Portillo.

​Rebeca Lemos, Managing Partner is an SSI certified International Kikisake-shi . She has worked extensively with premium sakes as well as Natural Wines. Rebeca is an alum of Tasca Kome, the most authentic and the only  Japanese owned and run Japanese restaurant in Lisbon.

Joel Marques, Managing Partner  is an advanced level, SSA certified Sake Sommelier with a long background in hospitality.  Joel has worked as the beverage manager at the highly acclaimed Gojuu as well as Umai in former years.
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​CONSULTANTS

António Tiago Rocha Pereira is an SSI certified International Kikisake-shi as well as a certified WSET Sommelier. His passion and knowledge for the technical and artisinal aspect of sake making is extensive. António has been very involved in expanding SakeMico's reach. Antonio worked for many years at Bonsai, Lisbon's original Japanese Restaurant.

Andrea Smith is educated at The Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelor's in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, Andrea has also currently earned a WSET Level 2 Wines & Spirits Award and WSET Level 1 Sake, as well gaining a Court of Master Sommeliers US Level 1 Certificate  Andrea spent 2 years as the Sommelier and part of the opening team for Midori in Penha Longa, the first Japanese restaurant to hold a Michelin star in Portugal. ​