His passion for wine and spirits ended up prevailing. Lewis Chester He graduated with honors in History from Oxford, then studied and practiced as a lawyer in London, later did an MBA at Harvard Business School and began to dedicate himself to the financial world. He was doing very well, and at the same time his private winery was growing in quality and quantity and he was learning about alcoholic beverages with it.
The British businessman ended up becoming a great collector and consultant to others who wanted to be, a path that placed him at a crossroads with the Franco-English sommelier Gerard Bassetwith whom he forged a friendship that led them to found a company together, Liquid Icons, to dedicate themselves to the research and production of content linked to the wine sector.
They collaborated until 2019, when Basset died of cancer. His friend Chester took charge – in the meantime he had trained and received several distinctions linked to wine – and two years later he ended up leaving his other occupations to devote himself fully to this one. He created the Gerard Basset Foundation in honor of the sommelier, led by his widow and daughter, and launched the most exclusive event in the world of wine, The Golden Vineswhich in its 2024 edition will stop in Madrid. With tickets to 12,000 euros per person during the three days it lasts, it offers a maximum luxury experience, in which there are everything from concerts and Michelin dinners to tastings and master classes by the most select labels in the world.
A few days before the ‘Oscars of wines’ open their doors in the Spanish capital, Lewis spoke to Summum:
How many wines and spirits do you have in your cellar?
I have a large collection of fine wines, but I do not reveal its size because it is private. However, the collection is made up of more than 70% large formats (magnums and larger). That’s probably why people in the industry refer to me as ‘Mr. Magnum’. I have been collecting rare spirits, especially single malt Scotch whisky, for over 25 years. This required me to travel to Scotland once a year to identify a special cask and have it bottled for me. My tastes are very specific: second fill, Oloroso cask, Speyside, unpeated, 25-50 years.
What are your most special bottles?
It’s best to think of my collection as a series of collections, as I delve into individual estates that I like and even individual plots where I love the terroir. 85% of my collection is made up of Burgundy and Champagne wines.
What advice would you give to someone starting their collection?
Be guided by your tastes, not by what you think you should have in your cellar or because you think you are going to make money with wine. You will inevitably make mistakes, as wine is a very experiential kind of good and your tastes constantly evolve and change as you become more expert. There are no shortcuts. You have to spend time learning and experimenting.
What do you think of Spanish wines?
Spain is without a doubt one of the best wine countries in the world. The point is that, at the level of fine wines (the ‘best of the best’), the French, and then the Italians to a lesser extent, dominate the market. Naturally, wineries like Vega Sicilia are world class, and of course there are others. But at the highest level, Spain has not yet caught up.
Where are the most interesting wines of the moment made?
I am only an expert in fine wines. I know very little about the generic wine market. It is very difficult to find areas of the world that are suddenly making fine wine, due to the terroir, the history, the experience, the investment required and the time it takes to establish a global reputation. However, I am a great lover of Sherry and the quality-price ratio of the best sherries is extraordinary. Unfortunately, not many collectors and wine aficionados are willing to try these wines.
In luxury, the most interesting market segment is that of artisanal products and tailored experiences.
Lewis Chester
Collector
What do you think of the new trends in wines: natural, organic, recovery of forgotten varieties, increased consumption of sparkling and white wines? Which is the most relevant to you?
Any advantage that can be gained, whether in terms of quality or simply for marketing reasons, is necessary to stand out from the crowd. Many of these trends must be seen through this prism. Of all of them, Francs de Pied, vines on their own original rootstocks, is possibly the most interesting for me as a collector. Without a doubt, these wines are more intense, complex and interesting. When combined with original (often lost) grape varieties indigenous to the terroir, they can produce exceptional wines. Think of Egon Muller’s Kabinett Alte Reben or Loic Pasquet’s Liber Pater as two notable examples.
To drink good wine you have to understand…
Does this wine give me pleasure? How much pleasure does this wine give me? Why does this wine give me pleasure? If you can answer these three questions, then you can taste good wine.
What is luxury for you?
First of all, luxury is actually a catch-all term for high-end products. The most interesting market segment is that of artisanal products and tailored experiences. Mass-produced high-end products are rarely of great quality. Handcrafted products from the most talented artisans are. Tailor-made experiences are a super-luxury offer that allows you to learn, enjoy and have fun, which is the basis of social and cultural progress.
A unique event
What is most special about The Golden Vines?
Golden Vines was designed so that customers who are not necessarily wine aficionados or experts could truly appreciate fine wine in a luxury setting that is both elevated and fun. It’s as if the Met Gala meets three Michelin star food and good wine. When they think of Golden Vines, our guests imagine “the best of the best.” Although it is an awards ceremony for the best wine and spirits wineries in the world, voted for by 1,200 wine professionals from more than 100 countries and verified by Deloitte, it is also a charity event. Golden Vines raises funds exclusively for the Gerard Basset Foundation, primarily through our online auction which ends Sunday, October 27 at midnight and is accessible through the web. The Foundation promotes and funds wine, spirits and hospitality education for young people, primarily from diverse backgrounds, in more than 15 countries around the world.
Why did you choose Madrid?
Madrid is, without a doubt, one of the most vibrant and beautiful cities in the world. Golden Vines is always held in the main cities of the world, rather than in the wine regions themselves, to attract an international audience and to be able to celebrate the two galas in exclusive and beautiful locations. Madrid fits perfectly.
What kind of people come to The Golden Vines and why?
Together with more than 50 winegrowers from around the world, including the winners of our Golden Vines awards, as well as the winners of our scholarships, Golden Vines attracts a wide international audience: North Americans, South Americans, Singapore and Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East and, of course, Europe. Half of the guests are VIP clients of our sponsors, including Gucci, Robb Report, Opul Jets, Dom Perignon, Sotheby’s, Taylor’s, Port, Camus Cognac, Barca Velha, 67 Pall Mall Private Members Clubs, Castiglion del Bosco Private Members Club, and others. The rest are wine and luxury lovers who buy their tickets directly from us.
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