Gerard Basset wins world champion sommelier title

Gerard Basset becomes the first UK winner of the world’s Best Sommelier Competition

The 52-year-old owner of the renowned Terravina restaurant in Southampton achieved his life long dream of winning the world’s best sommelier title in Chile.

The French-born sommelier beat off competition from 51 other contestants and survived a demanding 40 minutes of practical tests to take the title.

Paolo Basso of Switzerland and David Biraud of France finished second and third respectively.

This was Basset's sixth attempt at winning the title, having reached the finals a number of times.

“It's the most difficult thing I've ever done. In the end I just thought I'm going to enjoy it and make the judges happy, even if I don't win,” he said.

Basset will hold the title until 2013 when the next competition is held in Tokyo.

Each finalist had to complete a series of timed tasks including blind tasting and describing in detail four different wines, and identifying eight spirits in three minutes.

Terravina now boosts two high achievers. Laura Rhys (Lovethatwine resident sommelier) won the Academy of Food & Wine UK Sommelier of the Year 2009.

The World Sommelier competition was notable for the presence of four women sommeliers in the semi-final.

Véronique Rivest of Canada was awarded the Peter Lehmann Shiraz trophy and Julia Gosea of Romania picked up an Acqua Panna award, both for promising young sommeliers.

The Best Sommelier in the World competition is organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and sponsored by Moet et Chandon. It takes place every three years.