Our Story & Mission Statement

Liquid Icons is, at its heart, a passion project. Founded in 2019 by three friends, Lewis Chester, Gérard Basset OBE MS MW MBA OIV MSc ASI and Alexander ‘Sasha’ Lushnikov, it was built on a shared love of football, fine wine and a desire to celebrate the very best in the world of fine wine and rare spirits. Gérard is widely regarded as one of the most respected and influential figures in hospitality, with a generosity of spirit and depth of knowledge that was clear to all who knew him. Following his untimely death, it was decided to do something that honoured his extraordinary legacy and impact, while also celebrating the people and estates involved in producing some of the greatest fine wines and rare spirits in the world.  

Liquid Icons exists to elevate and champion leaders within the industry. This was initially embodied by The Golden Vines® Report, a unique survey which collated the opinions of 1000 industry professionals across 120 countries with decades of collective experience, good taste and expertise, making it the largest and most diverse poll in the business. Now in its sixth year, it’s become widely recognised as a trusted marker of quality in the industry, incorporating the views of all stakeholders and democratising a process where so much is subjective and often the preserve of a few select tastemakers.

It was decided that an event should be created to honour the winners of the Report, as well as to raise money for a new charitable foundation bearing Gérard’s name. Thus, in 2021, The Golden Vines® Awards were born. Taking place in some of the most beautiful cities in the world and gathering together the industry’s great and good alongside international A-list talent, the Awards are a spectacular three-day celebration recognizing the producers who deliver exceptional quality, as featured in the Report. Alongside two gala dinners, masterclasses, ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences, our industry-leading fundraising auctions and Michelin-starred dinners, the ceremony sees trophies given across multiple categories to those who consistently demonstrate true excellence in their field, from the best producers regionally to awards for innovation and sustainability and rare spirits, and - of course - our Hall of Fame award for those who have made an indelible mark upon the industry.   

As we continue making our mark on the industry by staying true to the ethos of elevating others in their mission to succeed our vision, we have grown to include a whole suite of offerings designed to promote excellence within the world of fine wines, rare spirits and hospitality, providing a community for those who share a love of the vine, as well as a means of communicating our decades-worth of collective expertise. These include in-depth research reports, bespoke events and consultancy, connecting the very best in the business via our unparalleled network of industry contacts. Lewis is also a prolific writer and frequent contributor to The Robb Report and LUX Magazine on all things wine and spirits related. 

Gérard was a mentor to many and believed that, in a world often rife with inequality, diversity and inclusivity are key to a thriving industry. As such The Golden Vines® are honoured to support his vision, with proceeds from our auctions going to support the incredible work of The Gérard Basset Foundation. Established by Gérard’s widow, Nina, and son, Romané, as well as Lewis and Sasha, in order to honour Gérard’s extraordinary legacy, the Foundation aims to support those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds looking to forge a career in fine wine and hospitality through scholarships, mentoring, access and funding, allowing them to broaden their education and enhance their careers. It has since pledged more than £1,000,000 through 48 grants of funding to 28 partner institutions globally, ranging from grassroots non-profits to world-renowned research institutions. They have committed more than £800,000 to award Scholarships and Bursaries, benefiting individuals across 24 countries globally and directly reached 1,200 individuals through our Grantee and Awards programme.As we look to the future, we hope that Liquid Icons can continue to lead the way in helping build an industry that is passionate, educated, diverse, and fully representative of the very best the world of wine has to offer.

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