The Swiss-Italian Paolo Basso is a well-known professional in the wine industry. After graduating from the Swiss Sommelier Association School, and many years of working in different restaurants featured in the best gourmet guides, he became involved in the field of rare and collectable wines, in which he has become and established expert. He runs his own wine merchant consulting company Paolo Basso Wine in Lugano, Switzerland, among his clients are the airline company Air France, international luxury hotel groups as well as wine producers and wine shops. Furthermore, he holds seminars on wine, is a highly demanded judge at international wine competitions and collaborates with wine schools in Switzerland and France. Since 2013 Paolo Basso is the Best Sommelier of the World. He has won this prestigious title at the 14th international competition of the Association de la Sommelliere Internationale.