The Champagne Information Centre is pleased to announce three winners in the 2008 Vin de Champagne Awards, held at Guillaume at Bennelong.

PROFESSIONAL SECTION:
Martin Williams (VIC), winemaker/consultant
Ph:- 0419 678 918  

AMATEUR SECTION:
John Leydon (SA), School Teacher, Ph:- 0450 17 66 59 

STUDENT SECTION:
Wiremu Andrews (VIC), Ph: 0404 954 696

More than 2,500 glasses of Champagne was served to high profile members of the food and wine industries, Champagne aficionados and VIP’s including M.Lionel Majeste-Larrouy, French Consul General to Australia, Carla Zampatti, Gail Elliott, Deborah Hutton, Jaynie Seal, Indira Naidoo, Mark Ferguson, Rachel Friend and Stuart McGill.

Winners receive a two-week educational tour to the Champagne district where they receive their medal from the CIVC and enjoy the legendary Champenois hospitality. In the past, winners have been overwhelmed by their visit and for many it’s the start of an exciting and passionate relationship with Champagne.

The soiree confirmed the fact that Australians are enjoying Champagne more than ever.  

No other wine award like this exists in Australia or in any other major market for Champagne in the world. The award has run for over thirty years and has produced some of the finest Champagne palates in the world. Past winners actively promote Champagne across all aspects of life ensuring that Australia remains in the top ten markets for importing Champagne. “For the first time, imports for 2007 hit the 3 million bottle mark with 3,308,978 bottles jumping nearly 12% on 2006” says Elisabeth Drysdale, Director of the Champagne Information Centre.

Guillaume Brahimi prepared a seven course dinner matched to sixteen Champagnes from the houses of:-

Ayala, Bollinger, Bruno Paillard, Charles Heidsieck, Henriot, Lanson, Louis Roederer, Moet et Chandon, Mumm, Nicolas Feuillatte, Perrier-Jouet, Pol Roger, Ruinart,   Taittinger,  Veuve Devaux and  Veuve Clicquot.
 
Many of Australia’s most knowledgeable wine industry personnel; winemakers, journalists, restaurateurs, commentators and educators are past winners of this incredibly prestigious award.

IL N’EST CHAMPAGNE QUE DE LA CHAMPAGNE - there is only one Champagne and it comes from Champagne!