Gérard Basset unveils Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships
Champagne Laurent-Perrier has partnered with the Gérard Basset Foundation to create the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships to nurture future talent and support inclusivity within the UK wine trade. The post Gérard Basset unveils Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships appeared first on The Drinks Business.
The Gérard Basset Foundation has teamed up with Champagne Laurent-Perrier to launch the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships to nurture future talent in the UK wine trade.
The two family-led companies revealed they share the shared objective to mentor the next generation of wine professionals. The businesses have also indicated that the new partnership will offer the chance for 10 individuals to undertake the Wine Scholar Guild Champagne Masters course, which is widely understood to be the most up-to-date and comprehensive certification available on the wines of Champagne, taught by experts Peter Liem, Essi Avellan MW, Steve Charters MW and Charles Curtis MW.
The scholarship winners will also take part in two days of masterclasses in negotiation and sales at special sessions held in London which will help them develop and refine essential skills for working in both the on- and off-trade.
In addition, Laurent-Perrier has said that it will host a tutored tasting session with the winners to fully immerse them in the Champagne category and allow them to improve their tasting techniques.
Speaking about the initiative, Gérard Basset Foundation co-founding trustee of and head of operations Romané Basset said: “The Gérard Basset Foundation has one clear mission: to use the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change, helping to foster, encourage, promote and assist a new generation of talent into the drinks and hospitality industries,”
Laurent-Perrier UK MD Adam Guy explained: “Like the Basset family, Laurent-Perrier’s heritage is rooted in the wine industry and together we are proud to support future generations.”
The Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships are open to UK-based applicants working in the wine and hospitality industries and all applicants are welcome. As one of the aims of these scholarships is to support and further inclusion and accessibility in the wine industry, candidates will be asked to explain in their own words what winning a scholarship would mean to them and enable them to achieve.
The judging panel will be composed of Nina Basset FIH, co-founding trustee and team leader of the Gérard Basset Foundation, Romané Basset, Christian Holthausen, head of communications for the Gérard Basset Foundation, and Preston Mohr, managing director of the Wine Scholar Guild.
Applications are officially open as of today and will remain open until 25 April 2025. To apply directly please visit the scholarship's webpage.
The two family-led companies revealed they share the shared objective to mentor the next generation of wine professionals. The businesses have also indicated that the new partnership will offer the chance for 10 individuals to undertake the Wine Scholar Guild Champagne Masters course, which is widely understood to be the most up-to-date and comprehensive certification available on the wines of Champagne, taught by experts Peter Liem, Essi Avellan MW, Steve Charters MW and Charles Curtis MW.
The scholarship winners will also take part in two days of masterclasses in negotiation and sales at special sessions held in London which will help them develop and refine essential skills for working in both the on- and off-trade.
In addition, Laurent-Perrier has said that it will host a tutored tasting session with the winners to fully immerse them in the Champagne category and allow them to improve their tasting techniques.
Speaking about the initiative, Gérard Basset Foundation co-founding trustee of and head of operations Romané Basset said: “The Gérard Basset Foundation has one clear mission: to use the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change, helping to foster, encourage, promote and assist a new generation of talent into the drinks and hospitality industries,”
Laurent-Perrier UK MD Adam Guy explained: “Like the Basset family, Laurent-Perrier’s heritage is rooted in the wine industry and together we are proud to support future generations.”
The Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships are open to UK-based applicants working in the wine and hospitality industries and all applicants are welcome. As one of the aims of these scholarships is to support and further inclusion and accessibility in the wine industry, candidates will be asked to explain in their own words what winning a scholarship would mean to them and enable them to achieve.
The judging panel will be composed of Nina Basset FIH, co-founding trustee and team leader of the Gérard Basset Foundation, Romané Basset, Christian Holthausen, head of communications for the Gérard Basset Foundation, and Preston Mohr, managing director of the Wine Scholar Guild.
Applications are officially open as of today and will remain open until 25 April 2025. To apply directly please visit the scholarship's webpage. 
