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Champion sommelier Gerard Basset OBE has been named by Decanter magazine as its ‘Man of the Year’ for 2013.
The Man of the Year award recognises and celebrates an individual who has made a significant contribution to the world of wine. Each winner is selected by a panel of judges made up of wine figures from around the world.
Basset, considered to be one of the world’s foremost authorities on wine, is credited with changing perceptions of wine service worldwide while training and mentoring a generation of young sommeliers.
After moving to the UK from his native France to embark on a career as a sommelier in the 1980s, Basset quickly established himself within the industry and won a succession of awards and accolades both in the UK and internationally.
Basset is the only individual to have completed the Master of Wine, Master Sommelier, and MBA (Wine) qualifications. Today, he runs boutique wine hotel TerraVina with his wife, Nina.
Speaking as the award was announced, Basset said: “I am humbled and overwhelmed to have been selected by my peers for this incredible honour. This is a great compliment and to have my achievements recognised in this way gives me enormous pride. Never would I expect my name to be in such exalted company with some of the truly great figures within this global industry. From winning the World Championship to receiving the OBE and now this – the last two years have been such an incredible experience and I thank the many individuals who have supported me throughout.”
