The award, launched in 2005 by the Comité Champagne (CIVC), is to recognise and reward the work of wine educators across Europe.
The UK final was held yesterday (September 17) in London. This year’s theme was the ‘singular nature of the Champagne region’. Candidates were given four Champagnes to taste and delivered a talk on the subject of the Champagne region, the specifics of the Champagne method, the different Champagne styles and Champagne and food pairing. They were judged on their knowledge, communication skills and ability to bring the subject alive.
The judges included: Charles Metcalfe (president of Association of Wine Educators); Antony Moss AIWS MW (strategic planning Director, WSET); Nancy Gilchrist MW (course leader, Christie’s Wine Education); Violaine de Caffarelli (oenologist and organiser of the competition, Comité Champagne) and Champagne Bureau director Françoise Peretti.
Hall, who is director and owner of Scala Wine, which specialises in wine education and corporate wine event management, wins an exclusive five-day trip to Champagne. He will go on to represent the UK and compete against the national finalists from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland.
The European final will be held on October 24 in Champagne and the winner will be announced at a dinner on October 25. Competitors will contend for the overall title of ‘Winner of the European Champagne Ambassador’s Competition 2013’ and two other awards will be given: Runner-Up and Special Prize at the European Champagne Ambassador’s Award 2013.
