Gérard Basset MW (1957-2019) was a Member of the Institute of Masters of Wine. His professional career began in his native France where he qualified as a chef and sommelier, the latter being his first job in England. He co-founded the Hotel du Vin with his business partners including Robin Hutson. Seven Hotel du Vins were opened in the UK, the first being in Winchester, and on the same street as my then family home. I’d cycle down to see Gérard on Sunday evenings as this was the quietest time of the week for him. We’d talk about wine, mainly the winemaking chain as I had a little bit of on the ground experience of that at the time. He loved acquiring knowledge and became the first in the world to hold an MBA, Master Sommelier and Master of Wine qualifications. In 2011 he was made an MBE. He was always the most modest person, full of encouragement to others. The last thing he said to me as he was battling cancer of the oesophagus was in an email very shortly before he died. ‘Send my love to your family,’ he wrote.