Honouring Becky Wasserman

I attended a lunch at the excellent Caves de la Madeleine restaurant in Beaune to honour my neighbour, Becky Wasserman, who has been elected to Decanter Magazine’s Hall of Fame – what was previously known as Man or Woman of the Year – for 2019.

Two former honourands, Jancis Robinson and Aubert de Villaine were amongst the select gathering, as were a few of the vignerons who have been central to Becky’s amazing 40+ year career at the centre of the domaine-bottling movement in the region: Denis Bachelet, David Croix, Dominique Lafon, Pascal Mugneret, Frédéric Mugnier and various members of the Lafarge family.

We ate beautifully, with seven perfectly balanced courses, drank some gorgeous wines, but above all were able to honour Becky who spoke with her usual warmth and modesty, serene in the company of her husband Russell, sons Peter and Paul and a key trio of her ‘Serbettes’ who have worked with Becky over the last more than a few years. Other guests featured Anthony and Rosi Hanson, and a select team from Decanter, including writers Tim Atkin and Stephen Brooke. A beautiful moment!

Lunch menu