We are the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change

We are the Gérard Basset Foundation

We were founded in honour of the world-renowned sommelier Gérard Basset; whose openness, humour and passion inspires all that we do.

We strive to build a future where a career in wine, spirits & hospitality has the potential to change lives and is open to all, irrespective of background or circumstance.

Since our founding, we have directly benefited 1,200 individuals through our funding.

We share Gérard’s belief that, with the right support, opportunity and nurturing, lives can be improved.

Our Vision

To build a future where a career in wine, spirits & hospitality has the potential to improve livelihoods and is open to all, irrespective of background or circumstance.

Our Mission

To improve livelihoods by empowering disadvantaged communities and uplifting under-represented professionals in wine, spirits & hospitality.

Our Mandate

To enhance the diversity, equality & inclusion of the wine, spirits & hospitality industries globally by funding education, training & career enhancing programmes.

  • Roger Domingo

    ‘Over the past three years, over 150 students that have benefited directly from the Gérard Basset Foundation funds. These are 150 students, 150 households, in some of South Africa's poorest communities with young people who had little to no opportunities.’

    Executive Director, Pinotage Youth Development Academy, South Africa

  • Flex Aleo

    ‘This scholarship means I can continue to develop my wine knowledge in spite of my financial constraints. Currently, there are no black Masters of Wine. Representation matters’

    Golden Vines® Wine Scholar Guild Scholar, USA

  • Irene Prempeh

    ‘As someone who did not have access to formal education in wine, attending the academy has been a game-changer for me whilst also making wine education accessible to others in Ghana too‘

    Africa Wine Academy, WSET Level 1 in Wine Student, Ghana

  • Sandeep Ghaey

    ‘Winning a Taylor's Port Golden Vines® Diversity Scholarship is surreal to me, and I am truly honoured and thankful to have been chosen. I really value the incredible mentorship and internship programmes with top professionals and wineries around the world that I now have access to’

    Taylor‘s Port Golden Vines® Diversity Scholar, USA

  • Ralph Roldan

    ‘This opportunity has been life-changing, educational and transformative. With a budding curiosity about wine, but limited prior experience, I wasn’t quite sure whereto begin. This experience has enabled me to think how I see myself and the power I can now genuinely hold in the spaces I walk into’

    280 Project Viticulture Apprentice, USA

  • Darian Everding

    ‘Winning this scholarship means that I have access to and representation within a community that I had resigned myself to believe was always going to be beyond my reach. I now have a pathway to access education, mentorship, and even a language which had seemed so inaccessible to me before‘

    Alexa Camus Golden Vines® Scholar in Spirits, USA

  • Tinashe Musora

    “It was one of my moonshots… I still can’t contain my joy and I’m immensely grateful to the Gérard Basset Foundation, and Cathy and her husband Kevin for this rare and amazing opportunity. It has been a paradigm shift.”

    DipWSET Bursary Recipient, South Africa

Friends of the Foundation