Founded in 2021 in memory of the renowned sommelier Gérard Basset, the Gérard Basset Foundation is an international charitable organization dedicated to making the worlds of wine, spirits, and hospitality more inclusive, diverse, and accessible. Inspired by Gérard Basset’s lifelong commitment to excellence, education, and generosity, the Foundation believes that hospitality can be a powerful force for social mobility and positive change.The Foundation’s mission is to identify, encourage, and support talented individuals from underrepresented and disadvantaged communities by helping them access education, mentoring, and career opportunities in the wine and hospitality industries.
Its work is built around three main pillars:
- Scholarships that enable aspiring professionals to pursue internationally recognized qualifications in wine, hospitality, and spirits.
- Grants awarded to nonprofit organizations, schools, and educational initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and professional development around the world.
- Mentoring, internships, and networking opportunities, connecting scholars with leading professionals and providing long-term guidance throughout their careers.
Today, the Gérard Basset Foundation supports initiatives in more than 30 countries, working with educational institutions, charities, and industry partners to remove barriers to opportunity. Particular attention is given to people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented communities, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.
Through Gérard Basset’s legacy, the Foundation promotes a vision of hospitality in which knowledge sharing, mentorship, excellence, and generosity go hand in hand, helping to build a more diverse, inclusive, and socially responsible global hospitality community.
