The Wine Tipster had a fantastic Royal Ascot 2017, presenting for Racing UK, BBC Berkshire and Ascot Racecourse. Over four and a half thousand people per day worked tirelessly throughout the week to make it another unforgettable year, which was made even more special with the spontaneous three cheers for the Queen everyday. Nearly 300,000 people attended this year’s Royal Ascot 2017 and the media coverage has never been stronger across the world.

As the official Champagne of Ascot this year, Champagne Bollinger was certainly flowing throughout the week, as was the official cocktail of the Flat season: The Royal Blush. The beautiful pink concoction is a mix of Beefeater London dry gin and rhubarb syrup, with chilled lemonade and fresh raspberries – making the perfect summer drink to enjoy at the racecourse.ITV’s James Tanner’s 

Queen Anne Kitchen was a new feature for the Racecourse, and was a particular favourite of The Wine Tipster, especially the Salt and Pepper Squid and the West Country Crab Salad, which paired beautifully with the Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Spy Valley from Marlborough, New Zealand. Tom Stanley my wonderful colleague from Racing UK enjoyed ‘going in’.

Other new features of Ascot this year included the 1768 Restaurant for lunch and afternoon tea, as well as The Village in the centre of the course which provided a more relaxed racing experience and was home to some stunning food stalls. The Wine Tipster tucked into Eggs Benedict from the wonderful Hotbox, who appear at music festivals across the country with their delicious delights.The Wine Tipster’s highlights of the week included tasting with Rishi Persad such dishes as Raymond Blanc’s Cornish Crab Salad with Coconut Bisque which was beautifully paired with the award-winning Bolney Estate Bacchus 2016 from Sussex. In regards to racing, however, The Wine Tipster enjoyed Gold Cup Day, especially with the 2 ½ mile feature won by his big tip of the week, Big Orange, who gallantly just managed to hold off the favourite Order of St George. Ribchester breaking the course record in the Jersey Stakes in the first race of Royal Ascot 2017 was also an unforgettable Ascot moment, as was Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup for the all conquering Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.   

All in all, another memorable and exciting Royal Ascot, for both the racing and fine dining experiences.

As ever, it was an honour to join members of the Champagne Academy at The Law Society, London for their Annual General Meeting on the 6th February, where they elected a new Chairman, Kevin Skeet of Legacy Hotels and Resorts. Kevin takes over from Philip Amps, of Amps Fine Wines, who steps down having served his one year tenure. Champagne Pommery will act as Presidential House for the next twelve months, a role which rotates between the houses each year.

The Champagne Academy is a unique collaboration between sixteen Grande Marque Champagnes who wish to educate the brightest and best members of the wine and hospitality trades in the UK and Ireland on the subject of Champagne. They select sixteen candidates each year to attend an in-depth course which is unique in the industry, taking place over the course of a week spent in the region. The course provides unprecedented access to the people, places and wines of Champagne, as well as opportunities to build personal connections that last a lifetime.
The 2017 course has seen a record number of applications from across the wine and hospitality sectors, in a sign of the growing recognition of the importance of the Champagne Academy course.  The names of the sixteen 2017 Champagne Academy candidates will be released in the coming days.

Following the AGM, Champagne Academy members and their guests were treated to a rare tasting of vintage Champagnes from the sixteen Grandes Marques, many served in magnum.

Bollinger 2007, Charles Heidsieck 2005, Veuve Clicquot 2004, Krug 2003, Lanson 2005, Laurent- Perrier 2006, Moët & Chandon 2008, Heidsieck Monopole 2009, G.H.Mumm 2006, Perrier-Jouët 2007, Piper-Heidsieck 2006, Pol Roger 2006, Pommery 2006, Louis Roederer 2009, Taittinger 2009 and Ruinart Blanc de Blancs.

For more details regarding the course contact Val Simpson champagneacademy@yahoo.co.uk
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Photos courtesy of Mark Fagan and Glass of Bubbly.

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/