9 DECEMBER 2024 | LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – As the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change, the Gérard Basset Foundation is delighted to announce funding for six new grants, awarded to grantees based in four different countries across four continents, as part of its mandate to fund educational and professional programmes focused on providing accessibility to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of what shape or form that might represent for them:
ENO CULTURA (Brazil) is Brazil’s largest provider of international wine certifications. The Foundation is supporting ‘Wine for Life’, a wine education programme that encourages applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn new skills and deepen their abilities to further their careers in wine and hospitality.
GLANCY WINE EDUCATION FOUNDATION (USA) offers wine education scholarships to underserved communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. We are supporting scholarships for beneficiaries to undertake wine certifications through their programme.
INSTITUTE OF CAPE WINE MASTERS (South Africa) is one of the highest qualifications attainable in the South African wine industry. We are supporting students with their course fees as they undertake the Cape Wine Master qualification.
TALES OF THE COCKTAIL FOUNDATION (USA) is a non-profit organisation that seeks to educate and support various communities in the drinks trade. We are supporting students as they undertake the Cocktail Apprenticeship Programme, enabling up-and-coming bartenders to be mentored by and learn from some of the biggest names in the industry.
DRINKLUSIVE (UK) is the drinks industries’ first Inclusivity Mentorship aimed at increasing the representation of drinks personalities from all diverse communities.
WOMEN OF THE VINE & SPIRITS FOUNDATION (USA) is a non-profit organisation offering scholarships globally for women to advance their careers in the food, wine, spirits, beer, and hospitality industries through education, leadership, and professional development.
“Investing in people is investing in the industry,” says Romané Basset, co-founder and trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation. “We are proud to announce funding to support 6 new grants as part of our mandate to fund educational and professional programmes focused on providing accessibility to people from disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of what shape or form that might represent for them. We believe very strongly that everyone deserves a fair chance.”
About The Gérard Basset Foundation
The Gérard Basset Foundation is the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change. Gérard Basset (7th March 1957 – 16th January 2019) OBE MS MW MBA OIV MSc ASI World’s Best Sommelier 2010 was without question one of the greatest wine professionals of his era. During his lifetime, Gérard mentored and trained a generation of young sommeliers who sought out his expertise and guidance to launch their own successful careers. Many of those protégés are now connected with the Foundation and remain instrumental in keeping Gerard’s legacy alive and flourishing. The Gérard Basset Foundation was co-founded in 2021 by Gérard’s wife Nina and their son Romané who also serve as trustees alongside Jancis Robinson OBE MW and Ian Harris: https://gerardbassetfoundation.org
