Tasting Victory

by Gérard Basset

A school dropout, Gerard had to come to England to discover his passion. He threw himself into learning everything he could about wine, immersing himself in the world of Michelin star restaurants and beginning the steep climb to the top of the career ladder. Tasting Victory charts his business co-founding and selling the innovative Hotel du Vin chain and founding, with his wife Nina, the much-loved Hotel TerraVina. It recounts in detail just how he managed to earn his unprecedented sequence of qualifications; Gerard is the first and only individual to hold the famously difficult Master of Wine qualification simultaneously with that of Master Sommelier and MBA in Wine Business. But it is his pursuit of the most important award of all that forms the core of this book – how, at his seventh attempt, and after a training regime that would shame most Olympic athletes, the fifty-three-year-old Gerard Basset was finally crowned the Best Sommelier of the World, and acknowledged as the greatest sommelier of his generation. Gerard's memoir is not only the story of how a champion is made, but also a record of how fine dining and hospitality changed in England, going from stale and unexciting to the world-leading sector it is today. Above all, it’s a book about succeeding against great in typical fashion it was when he was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus that Gerard responded by deciding to write Tasting Victory, which he completed shortly before his death in January 2019.

246 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Aleksandar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so calling yourself the world's favourite sommelier is a bit much right from the start. Now, I know we're talking about Gérard Basset here, who's a legend and sadly passed away a few years back, but still, the title of his memoir hits me the wrong way. It’s like if Peter Crouch wrote a memoir called "World's Handsomest Footballer". Where’s the logic? But moving past the title, for those who might not know, Gérard Basset is considered one of the greatest wine professionals of his time. The guy dropped out of school, moved to England, and totally found his calling. He dove headfirst into the wine world, working his way through Michelin-starred restaurants and earning both the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine titles. Just shows how far passion and hard work can take you.

The book mainly dives into the hotelier scene, top-tier wines, society’s elite, and yes, the arduous journey to becoming a sommelier. Renowned writer, Jancis Robinson, once said Gérard was “the most gifted sommelier I have ever come across, in terms of both his knowledge and how he handles customers.” When it comes to the world of hospitality and going deep on textbook wine topics, Gérard totally owned it, and it's genuinely inspiring to read. Don't get me wrong here. But what doesn’t quite match up with his passion is the writing style of the book - it’s super simple and kind of repetitive to the point it started getting on my nerves. For someone who adored England enough to become a citizen, I was honestly expecting a bit more flair in his writing. At times, it felt like a 10-year-old was behind the words.

[Rowen Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
This was an interesting life story, with more focus around the hotelier business and also on the arduous process of becoming a renowned sommelier. It was however lacking on details of specific wines. I would have liked some more coverage over the wines he especially loved and also some info about certain chateaus/houses he liked.

Overall, this book was really interesting and an amazing insight in how someone could come from nothing to the top of their field. I was engrossed in its content from the first page. It was one of the few books over which I have shed a tear.

This would be a 4.5 if there were some details about wines. If you are just looking for an interesting biography about someone who has excelled within this field, then I am sure you would love this.

[sean murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

How amazing, so inspirational

It's such a wonderful book to read as one of the hotelier who currently work in the hotel du vin.

[Jorge Guitián Castromil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leído en la edición española de la editorial Culturaliquida, sin ficha aquí. Interesante, aunque un poco lineal.

[Liam Mycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

From cover to cover, a wonderful story of determination and taking each opportunity and difficulty with a passion to succeed. His sad falling to cancer took away a beacon of light in his, and our, world long before it should.

This book is not only for those who love wine tales, but a story of achievement and should be a go to book for all who aim to be successful in their chosen path.

Highly recommended...

[Elizabeth Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant read about a really lovely and humble man, who shows what you can achieve in life through hard work and determination.