He is currently studying Mandarin at BLCU after being the sommelier at the prestigious restaurant L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Hong Kong, awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide.
In 2003, at the age of 30, sommelier Andre Mack became the first African American to win the Chaîne's title of Best Young Sommelier in America.
Kinch appeared as a guest judge along with award-winning sommelier Andre Mack on episode 4 (entitled "Daring Pairings") of Season 1 of the ABC reality show The Taste, which aired on February 12, 2013.
Gerard Francis Claude Basset OBE, MS, MW, MBA, is the owner with his wife, Nina, of Hotel Terravina, a New Forest Hotel near Southampton in Hampshire, United Kingdom.
Oakley has always had a passion for wines and in 1999, met sommelier Barry Skarin, who has worked as Head Sommelier for Marco Pierre White and Michael Caines, in a pub.