Bruce Duncan Guimaraens


Bruce Duncan Guimaraens was a port wine maker.

Early life and education

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal on 27 October 1935, Bruce Guimaraens was the great-great-grandson of Manuel Pedro Guimaraens founder of the London house of the famous Fonseca Port firm in 1822. His father was Charles Guimaraens, Managing Director of W&J Graham Ltd.
Guimaraens was educated at Abingdon School from 1946 until 1953 and his elder brother John 'Gordon' Guimaraens also attended Abingdon School from 1946-1952.

Career

In 1949 the family-owned house of Fonseca was purchased by Taylor, Fladgate, and Yeatman. Bruce served in the Gold Coast, now Ghana, from 1953 to 1956 as a lieutenant in the Royal West African Frontier Force. In 1956 he joined Taylor-Fonseca and trained under Dick and Stanley Yeatman. Guimaraens became a full partner in the firm in 1961, assuming responsibility for Fonseca winemaking and vineyard management for the Taylor-Fonseca group. His brother Gordon was Production Director of Cockburn's Port House.