L’Academie du Champagne, known in Great Britain as The Champagne Academy is, this year, celebrating its 60^th anniversary. It was established in 1956 to recognise the UK and Ireland as key markets, and to encourage the appreciation of Grand Marque Champagnes through the education of younger members of the wine trades of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Their prime objective is to educate members of the trade who would not otherwise be able to study Champagne in such depth and participate in their prestigious week long course in June.

The organisation is a unique gathering of producers (the Houses) from a wine-producing region, co-operating in a manner that puts Grande Marque Champagnes and the region first, before the interests of individual Houses. The 16 houses are; Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Pommery, Pol Roger, Perrier- Jouët, Moët & Chandon, Laurent-Perrier, Louis Roederer, Krug, Charles Heidseck, G.H.Mumm, Heidseck Monopole, Bollinger, Tattinger, Piper-Heidseck and Lanson.

Phillip Amps of Amps Fine Wines, attended the course in 1996 and is now Chairman of the Champagne Academy. He says, “The Champagne Academy is a unique collaboration between the Houses – they really do put aside the competition between each other to promote Champagne and the region”.

The course provides a packed week in the region, a unique in-depth and Champagne education experience. It includes time in the classroom as well as visits to all the Houses. As important as what the candidates learn, is the opportunity to build relationships with key industry leaders in Champagne.

During the week, participants sit daily tests and a final exam, on completion of which, candidates are awarded the prestigious Champagne Academy Diploma and invited to join The Champagne Academy which now has in excess of 600 members.

This all adds up to a unique and privileged experience which most people, even in the wine trade, can only dream of. Talk to any Champagne Academy member and they cannot speak highly enough of their once in a life time experiences on the course.

For more information, including the diary of previous participants, please visit – https://champagneacademy.co.uk/

Contact Val Simpson (champagneacademy@yahoo.co.uk)
Twitter: @ChampagneAcad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Champagne-Academy/

Over 100 people joined Neil Phillips, The Wine Tipster, at his masterclass, Prosecco DOC and Grana Padano PDO Cheese. “Italian moments – the flavour of joy” in Oxford.

Prosecco continues to develop its growth, and popularity will continue to expand, remaining on-trend with Prosecco DOC producers making excellent sparkling wines. Prosecco DOC are excellent food pairing wines, particularly with Grana Padano, a wonderfully versatile cheese.
The crowd were able to taste two vintages of Grana Padano, Grana Padano aged for over 16 months and Grana Padano “Riserva” aged for at least 20 months – there is a third vintage of Grana Padano aged between 9 and 16 months. They were then paired with a selection of Prosecco.

Not only is Grana Padano a key part of your cheese board, it can also be incorporated into a variety of dishes such as Squid salad with Grana Padano shavings and lemon powder, Risotto with peas, Grana Padano and basil and “ Maltagliati” with chanterelle mushroom sauce and Grana Padano.

For more information on Prosecco DOC (Origin Controlled Designation) go to www.discoverproseccowine.it and Grana Padano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) www.granapadano.it. The Grana Padano aged over 16 months can be found in major retailers with the Grana Padano Riserva aged over 20 months available in Waitrose, Sainbury’s, Marks & Spencer and specialist shops.

To buy the featured wines they are available as follows: Prosecco Ruggeri Argeo DOC Treviso Brut, visit, www.greatwesternwine.co.uk. Mionetto Treviso DOC Treviso Brut is available on Amazon, Bosco del Merlo DOC Extra Dry 2015 from www.thewineryuk.com and Mionetto DOC Treviso Extra Dry from Tesco.

It has been a great summer for Foodies Festival around the country with excellent sessions in Bristol, Tatton Park, Birmingham and Brighton. The Wine Tipster will be presenting his masterclass, Prosecco DOC and Grana Padano PDO Cheese. “Italian moments – the flavour of joy” at the Foodies Festival in London at Truman Brewery on 18th and 20th November.

This year’s Festival of Food & Wine Racing Weekend at Ascot Racecourse was a roaring success. In addition to a fantastic day of racing, racegoers were able to visit a brilliant selection of over 40 food and wine stalls.

Culinary genius Raymond Blanc and Wine Expert Oz Clarke were joined by Racing Tipster, Neil Phillips in the Furlong Club Gastronomes Theatre who together brought you not only great demonstrations but plenty of entertainment too! Guests began the day’s busy schedule with a glass of Chapel Down English Sparkling Wine followed by a perfect coffee preparation and coffee cocktail demonstration with Lavazza. They then enjoyed an Old World versus New World tasting with cheese and charcuterie provided by Wondering Wine Kitchen and wine pairing suggestions to accompany seared Halibut with Shellfish Risotto created by Sodexo Head Chef Ben Dutson. The Wine Tipster presented a fantastic Pie and Wine Tasting with two Sweeny & Todd Pies paired with Delicato Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel and Soave Classico Monte Carbonare, Italy courtesy of Bibendum Wines. Fiona Smith presented beer and food pairings with Stella Artois.

In addition to his MC duties and wine presenting, The Wine Tipster also marked the racecard for the day which resulted in four winners including Dutch Law at 12/1 and Frontispiece at 7/1.

We look forward to seeing you again in 2017.

With thanks to Grown Up Marshmallows, Wiltshire Chilli Farm, B.O.B’s Lobster, Cake Hole, Sweeney & Todd Pies and Dark Horse Wines.

Photos Courtesy of Jonathan Short.

In the UK, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying a day at the races whether you are an avid racegoer or keen amateur. In addition to world class racing, you can also expect spectacular food and wine providing a fantastic day out and Goodwood is an excellent place to start. The undoubted sporting and social highlight of the season is the recent Qatar Goodwood Festival in which horses from around the globe compete for the £5 million in prize money on offer over the 5 day festival. Highlights include the glamourous Ladies Day including the unique ladies celebrity race, The Magnolia Cup, with riders sporting silks created by high profile fashion designers. Star filly Minding, the world’s joint best-three-year-old filly beforehand, secured her sixth Group One success in the Qatar Nassau Stakes, the feature race on day five and Europe’s richest race for fillies and mares.

As The Wine Tipster, my role is to present on food, wine and racing at key meetings across the UK including Glorious Goodwood on Racing UK, Goodwood racecourse radio and Goodwood racecourse TV. With a love of racing, maths and analytical thinking, I have always enjoyed studying the form. This has led to a unique opportunity for me to combine my love of fizz and food with horse-racing You can enjoy this for yourself with a selection of bubbles on offer from local to global options!

This was a key occasion for local winery, Nyetimber, who were sponsoring the bar at Goodwood, one of a number of English Sparkling wineries who are enjoying continued popularity right now. There are around 500 vineyards in England and Wales covering some 4,500 acres producing over 5 million bottles of sparkling and still wines.
Nyetimber have 170 hectares of their own vineyards in Sussex and Hampshire and using the traditional trio of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, their owner Eric Heerema is quite rightly proud of their range of award-winning wines which includes the 2009 Classic Cuvée in magnum and the 2009 Blanc de Blancs. Both won Gold at the recent International Wine Challenge. Look out for their beautifully reimagined 1968 Routemaster bus which will be attending iconic British events throughout the year.

Away from Goodwood you can purchase Nyetimber’s wines at Waitrose.

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2010, West Sussex, England, abv 12%, £31.99. Stockist: Waitrose.
Winemaker Cherie Spriggs produces wines of outstanding quality and this Classic Cuvée is delicious, with complexity, elegance and stunning length.  I would also recommend their Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2009 in magnum, a wine to keep and savour.

Nyetimber Rosé NV, West Sussex, England, abv 12%, £39.99. Stockist: Waitrose
A top class example of English winemaking with this pink that fits In perfectly with the rest of their range in style.
Light in colour, with gentle berry fruit and floral notes, this is beautifully harmonious dry and classic rosé.

If you are heading off to a Saturday race meeting check out my tips in my On The Box column in Saturday’s Racing Plus!

The Wine Tipster joins Steve Elsom on his 100th and final show of The Business Hub.

Chuffed to be asked to join Steve on his final show. Top banter. Click here to listen.

 

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