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/