Nina Basset FIH

Co-Founding Trustee & Chairwoman, Gérard Basset Foundation

Nina is a seasoned hotelier, having been instrumental in the co-founding of Hotel du Vin, Hotel TerraVina, and Spot in the Woods – all with her late husband, the very special Gerard Basset, by her side. The accolade of being the youngest ever AA Hotel and Restaurant Inspector – at only 21 – and the far too young winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in Business before she hit 40, have ensured Nina’s merit as a hospitality professional.

Her love of fine wine stems from all of her holidays being spent with Gerard in various vineyards across the world. Living with such a wine legend ensured that his passion and enthusiasm for all things vinous rubbed off on both Nina and their son, Romané.

From January 2019 onwards, Nina and Romané are ensuring Gerard’s legacy lives on, both by association with Liquid Icons – the company he co-founded with Lewis Chester DipWSET – as well as through the varied awards and scholarships in Gerard’s name that will ensure Gerard continues to be honoured for his enormous influence on sommeliers around the world and global fine wine industry. In October 2020, Nina accepted an invitation to become a Vice President of Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS), and then in November 2022 became General Secretary of the ASI.