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 Gérard 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 Gérard 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 Gérard’s legacy lives on, through the charitable work of the Gerard Basset Foundation, https://gerardbassetfoundation.org/, as well as through the varied, personally sponsored awards and scholarships in Gérard’s name that will ensure Gérard continues to be honoured for his enormous influence on sommeliers around the world and global fine wine industry. Nina is a co- founder and a Vice President of the United Kingdom Sommelier Academy. In November 2022 she became General Secretary of ASI (International Sommelier Association)