Gerard Basset

Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer, Sommelier, Decanter Man of the Year 2013, DWWA Co-chair & DAWA Vice-chair

Gerard Basset OBE, MW, MS was a world-renowned wine professional. He was the first person to hold a Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and MBA Wine Business qualification simultaneously. In 2010 he won the World Sommelier Championship and he was awarded an OBE in 2011 for his services to the UK hospitality industry. He was named Decanter’s Man of the Year in 2013. He was a founding partner of the Hotel du Vin Group, through which Gerard trained many young sommeliers. He was regularly listed as one of the top 100 most influential people and, among many other accolades, he was presented with the Catey Wine & Spirit Ambassador Award in 2014. In 2007 he opened his own wine hotel in Hampshire, TerraVina, with his wife Nina. He was Director of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe and Honorary President of the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust). A regular Decanter taster and contributor, he was the Burgundy correspondent in 2014 and served as vice-chair of the Decanter Asia Wine Awards, as well as a co-chair for Decanter World Wine Awards.