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/

New Year’s Day at Cheltenham Racecourse was very wet and windy, with the racecourse team doing a great job in keeping racing going for the afternoon. Although racegoers were rewarded with some impressive performances by Annie Power, Oscar Whisky and Mendip Express it was certainly a day for staying inside and enjoying some liquid refreshment in the various racecourse bars.

The Golden Miller Champagne Bar was certainly a popular spot with many punters raising a glass of Piper Heidsieck Brut NV or those who had hit the jackpot were enjoying some delicious Dom Pérignon 2002.  In the Final Flight bar Adam Henson’s  Rare Breed Bitter, brewed by Butcombe Brewery, was doing a roaring trade.

On Cheltenham Racecourse Radio when interviewed in the wind and rain by presenter Rupert Bell before racing I tipped Oscar Whisky, who won, whilst my other tip Burton Port, was clearly off colour.  Rupert had set me the task of finding a warming drink at the course and Tullamore Dew’s hot toddy was certainly enticing, however the Fireside bar delivered the goods with their not over spiced mulled wine. Hopefully when I’m back on Cheltenham Racecourse Radio on January 25th we can talk about good ground and dry conditions.

In terms of liquid refreshment, the festive period equalled quality imbibing in 2013 with the stunning Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV, whilst my last bottle of Perrier- Jouët Millésime 1998 fizz was an exquisite, beautiful and complex champagne to savour on Christmas Day.  Château D’Anglès Classique Rosé 2012,  La Clape, Sud de France made from Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache was a top class, cerebral pink for Christmas Eve.  Dalmau Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2005 made from fruit from their sixty year-old vines in their single vineyard plot Canajas was a brilliant example of what Rioja achieves at Group 1 level and tasted great with the duck. Folks never think enough about fortified wines at Christmas and Gonzalez Byass’ Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo VORS Sherry was outstanding with the stilton and mince pies over the festive period.

Boxing Day came with grade one racing from Kempton Park and it was great to see our local trainer Charlie Longsdon win at this high profile meeting with Loose Chips. The elegant Meerlust Pinor Noir 2011 from Stellenbosch in South Africa was perfect the with ham from Slatters’ Butchers in Chadlington and for armchair viewing too!

New Year Eve’s drew in with Louis Roederer’s Brut Premier NV and like my tips will be for 2014 this champagne was right on the money!

As the Champagne Ambassador for G.H.Mumm and Perrier-Jouët 2012 has been a fantastic year for Gourmet Dinners, with the sold out Perrier- Jouët Dinner at Rockliffe Hall on Monday  a testament to this.  Rockliffe Hall’s chef Kenny Atkinson (pictured left), who appeared on The Great British Menu, is doing a brilliant job at and having worked with Kenny before I was looking forward to matching our champagnes with his dishes. From my perspective it is also a really good opportunity to enthuse to a full house about quality champagnes and food matching and how this can work throughout a menu with Monday night proving the point. After Perrier- Jouët Grand Brut NV for the aperitif, the starter of Goosnargh Chicken, a lovely terrine with mushroom ketchup, celeriac and truffle matched with the delicious Belle Epoque Blanc 2004, served at 8 degrees plus bringing the Chardonnay character to the fore. The main course was Whixley Grange Farm Pork Belly originally combined with hand dived scallop, glazed apple and smoked bacon (pictured right) matched with Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut 1998, which brought the right intensity and complexity to match with the dish.The dessert of Michel Cluizel dark chocolate terrine, strawberries, candied rose petals and strawberry ash meringue (pictured below) balanced perfectly the freshness, wild strawberry, raspberry fruit flavours and hints of rose petal with the Perrier- Jouët Blason Rose NV. A fantastic combination in which to finish an evening with an enthusiastic and appreciated audience.

Next time I visit Rockcliffe Hall I will be staying for longer because this is a quality, relaxing hotel in beautiful grounds with really helpful staff, spacious rooms, a golf course and more importantly than holding a  three wood for me a spa!. So very soon Louise and The Wine Tipster will be making their way to Darlington, then taking a short taxi ride to Rockliffe Hall.