Funds will go toward awarding WSET Level 4 Diploma scholarships in 2025, furthering educational opportunities for women in the beverage alcohol industry
December 11, 2024 (New York, NY) – The Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)3, the charitable arm of Women of the Vine & Spirits, which provides scholarships for the purpose of advancing women’s careers in the food, wine, spirits, beer and hospitality industries, announced today that it was selected as a grantee of The Gérard Basset Foundation Education Fund.
The Gérard Basset Foundation was established to honor the legacy and memory of Gérard Basset OBE MS MW MBA OIV MSc ASI World Champion, addressing the wine, spirits and hospitality industries’ most pressing issues through education, training, and mentorship.
As a grantee of The Gérard Basset Foundation, the WOTVS Foundation will put the funds towards Wine & Spirit Education Trust® (WSET) Level 4 Diploma scholarships, the Foundation’s most competitive scholarship category. WSET Scholarship applications are open from May 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025. Recipients selected for these scholarships will have full funding to enroll in the Diploma course, furthering their wine education and industry knowledge.
“We can’t thank The Gérard Basset Foundation enough for their continued support of our organization,” said Deborah Brenner, President of the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation. “These funds will have a direct impact on the women who are looking to attain the most prestigious WSET award, furthering our mission of fostering the next generation of women in the beverage alcohol industry.”
Created to help further Women of the Vine & Spirits’ larger mission of empowering and advancing women in the alcohol beverage industry, the WOTVS Foundation provides annual scholarships and awards to deserving applicants seeking to continue and expand upon their professional development and education. Since it was launched in 2017, the WOTVS Foundation has awarded 373 scholarship recipients with $959,620 in funds. For more information about WOTVS Foundation scholarship opportunities as well as additional details about previous recipients visit wotvsfoundation.org
The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)(3) is looking for donations to award additional scholarships in 2025. To donate and learn more about donor levels and benefits visit wotvsfoundation.org/support-us or contact the Foundation at foundation@womenofthevine.com.
2024 and 2025 Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation Donors:
Patron ($100,000+): Gallo; Advocate ($35,000-$99,999): Suntory Global Spirits; Benefactor ($15,000-$34,999): Domaine Serene, The Gérard Basset Foundation, Republic National Distributing Company, Tito’s Handmade Vodka;Affiliate ($5,000-$14,999): Sazerac Company, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Supporter ($1,000-$4,999): Ridge Vineyards’ Diversity Committee, Scott Laboratories Inc. To learn more about Foundation Donors visit wotvsfoundation.org/our-donors.
About the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation
The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)(3) is the charitable arm of Women of the Vine & Spirits. The Foundation provides scholarships and awards for the purpose of helping women advance in the alcohol beverage industry through education, leadership, and professional development. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com/foundation.
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
