Laurent Richet and Laura Rhys - Hotel TerraVina

Two master sommeliers recognised at the multi award-winning hotel

24th November 2010, 10:32am

Hotel TerraVina is celebrating once again after both their resident Sommeliers have been successful in passing their Master Sommelier exams.

Laura Rhys and Laurent Richet have been awarded the prestigious titles of Master Sommeliers 2010.

Out of the 14 candidates going through the process only three were successful — two of them being from Hotel TerraVina.

As well as that, Laurent gained all three parts of the exam, at the very first attempt, a feat often never achieved - thus he has been awarded the Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Cup for his outstanding results.

Laura Rhys is only the second ever British female Master Sommelier since the Courts exams were established way back in 1969.

Nina Basset, co-founder of Hotel TerraVina said: "We are absolutely thrilled with both Laura and Laurent's fantastic achievements but it must be said that this is yet further testament to Gerard, my husband, as they have both been trained and nurtured by him and this yet again proves he is a mentor extraordinaire!"

Gerard added: "We are all so very proud of Laura and Laurent — it's a huge credit to them, their hard work and dedication to the industry."

This latest accolade follows a plethora of other awards and honours collected by Hotel TerraVina in 2010.

In April Gerard himself won the World Sommelier Championships in Chile.

In September Laurent Richet and Sous Chef Neil Cooper won the Academy of Food & Wine's 2010 Gastronomy Team of the Year after an exciting 'cook & serve' final at London's Westminster Kingsway College.

September also saw Gerard awarded the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Personality of the Year.

Related Articles:

• 16 Nov 2010 - The search begins for UK Sommelier of the Year 2011
• 20 Jul 2010 - Hotel Terravina team wins 2010 Gastronomy Team of the Year title
• 22 Jun 2010 - Academy of Food & Wine reveals finalists for two competitions
• 16 Apr 2010 - GERARD BASSET WINS WORLD’S BEST SOMMELIER COMPETITION
• 25 Feb 2010 - Semi-finalists of UK sommelier of the year revealed
• 03 Feb 2010 - Sommelier of the Year 2009 celebrates winning prize
• 08 Sep 2009 - Gerard Basset to represent UK in sommelier contest

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