Luca Gargano
Luca "Ruruki" Gargano | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 (age 69–70) Genoa, Italy |
| Occupation | CEO |
| Employer(s) | La Maison & Velier (LM&V) |
| Known for | Discovering abandoned Caroni rum, popularizing Haitian clairins, founding the Triple "A" wine movement, and the Gargano rum classification system. |
| Awards | Mejor experto de ron (2014), Best Rum Influencer of the Year (2016), Rum Producer of the Year (2022) |
Luca Gargano (born 1956 in Genoa, Italy) is an Italian businessman and rum expert who serves as the CEO of Velier, a Genoa-based importer and distributor of wines, spirits, and Caribbean rums. He has contributed to the rum industry by acquiring and bottling the last known stocks of the defunct Caroni distillery in Trinidad, introducing Haitian clairin to international markets, popularizing Hampden Estate in Jamaica, and developing the Gargano rum classification system. Gargano advocates for transparency, terroir, and traditional production methods in rum and wine, and has been a prominent critic of additives and misleading labeling practices in the rum industry. His efforts have transformed Velier from a small family company to an internationally recognized enterprise, and have earned him multiple awards and co-bottling partnerships with major distilleries.