Wine personalities awarded in Queen's Birthday Honours list

Two well known personalities in the UK, Mike Roberts and Gerard Basset have been awarded an MBE and an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to the drinks industry. Mike Roberts, co-founder of Ridgeview Wine Estate, received an MBE for the contribution he has made to the growing reputation of the UK wine industry as Chairman of English Wine Producers. Gerard Basset received an OBE (ranking above an MBE) in recognition of his achievements as a sommelier. Gerard is the only individual ever to have completed the triple qualifications of Master of Wine, Master Sommelier, and MBA (Wine), and has won almost every major sommelier award in the world. He founded Hotel du Vin and now owns Terra Vina in the New Forest where he is training and mentoring the next generation of sommeliers. Well done both!