Gerard Basset MW, MS, one of the UK’s best known sommeliers, owner of Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire and technical director of the Academy of Food & Wine, has been crowned the World’s Best Sommelier.
Gerard beat 53 sommeliers in the competition, organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and held this week in Chile.
“I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded the World’s Best Sommelier title. This was the sixth time I have taken part, and having been placed second three times I was determined to do well this year. Competing was exciting, nerve racking and thrilling, but I put in a lot of work from the time I was chosen to represent the UK in September 2009, so I felt I had done enough preparation.
“Thank you to all the people who have wished me luck and sent me good wishes – it was hugely inspiring and much appreciated. We can’t get home at the moment, but we are on cloud nine!”
French-born Basset, one of the co-founders of the successful Hotel du Vin chain has the distinction of being the only person in the world who is a Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and who has the Wine MBA. He attended the Lycee Albert Camus, School in Firminy, France, and, after training in Lyon, he moved to England quickly becoming Head Sommelier at Chewton Glen, the Michelin-starred hotel in Hampshire. In 1989, he won UK Sommelier of the Year, in 1992 the Best International Sommelier for French Wines (Paris), and in 1996 the Best Sommelier of Europe. In 1988 he qualified as a Master of Wine.
One of the judges of the competition, Brian Julyan, chief executive of the Court of Master Sommeliers, praised Gerard’s sommellerie skills: “He was brilliant in the final, winning in every section on my scoring! The judges took very little time in declaring the winner, Gerard gave a brilliant performance.”
The World’s best Sommelier competition attracts candidates from each of the ASI’s 41 member countries. It consists of two days of rigorous written and practical exams, including blind tastings and service role plays to test the candidates’ knowledge of wine, spirits, and other beverages, cigars, and food and wine pairing, as well as their service skills to determine the top three candidates for the final competition. Three finalists compete in a public final round and the winner is announced at a gala dinner the same evening.
For further information, please contact Linda Pettit at Tilburstow Media Partners on 01883 742955, mobile 07973 789853 or email Linda@tilburstowmedia.co.uk. Alternatively contact Gerard on his return at the Hotel TerraVina on 023 8029 3784.
Editor’s notes
• About the Academy. Founded in 1988, the Academy of Food and Wine is the industry’s professional training body, dedicated to skills, wine service and food service. The Academy’s purpose is to identify, promote and maintain the highest professional standards for the education and training of food and wine waiting staff and bar assistants in the UK hotel, restaurant, catering and bar industry.
• Its objectives are: for every practicing waiter/waitress, wine waiter and
bar assistant in the industry to be a member of the Academy – their
professional body; to gain greater recognition for these operatives
throughout the industry by accreditation, badging and recognition; to
help members develop, maintain and advance their knowledge, skills and ability; to provide an interface between educators, service staff and
their employers; and to enhance member’s career prospects.
• Currently the Academy has 250 individual and 500 establishment members.
