WSET names new honorary president

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has appointed Steven Spurrier as its new honorary president, replacing Gérard Basset.

Steven Spurrier is WSET’s new honorary president

Spurrier takes over the role at the close of WSET’s Awards and Graduation ceremony held at Guildhall, City of London, tonight (23

Spurrier joined the wine trade in London in 1964 as a trainee with London’s oldest wine merchant Christopher and Co. He later moved to Paris where he opened L’Academie du Vin, France’s first private wine school.

In 987 he was named honorary president of Academie du Vin Tokyo, a WSET-approved programme provider. He has since written several wine books, and created the Christie’s Wine Course with fellow previous WSET honorary president Michael Broadbent.

Spurrier is also consultant editor for Decanter Magazine, and co-founded the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2004 as chairman, recognised as chairman emeritus in 2017.

Ian Harris, WSET chief executive, said: “My board of trustees and I are delighted to welcome Steven as WSET’s 5th honorary president, following in the footsteps of Gérard Basset, Jancis Robinson, Hugh Johnson and Michael Broadbent.

“As WSET’s global reach continues to expand, it is a great honour to have someone who has a worldwide reputation – and with education at his heart – as our Honorary President”.

On accepting the position, Spurrier said: “It is a great honour to succeed such a roster of the previous four honorary presidents, particularly since the creation of L’Academie du Vin in Paris and the Christie’s Wine Course in London could not have happened without the publication of Michael Broadbent’s seminal book Wine Tasting.

“I have spent most of my five decades in wine in education and communication, where the WSET is the leader by a long chalk.”