By Amy Looker
The finalists for the 2010 Vin de Champagne Awards have been announced, with the winners set to be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney next month.
The awards are organised on behalf of the Comite Champagne and seek to find passionate ambassadors to raise the profile of Champagne in Australia.
Finalists are selected across professional, amateur and student categories, with each of the winners receiving a two-week educational tour to the Champagne region. Finalists are judged by a panel of industry experts and former winners including wine writer, Huon Hooke, wine educator, Peter Bourne and Champagne educator, Bernadette O’Shea.
“No other wine award like this exists in Australia or in any other major market for Champagne in the world,” said Elisabeth Drysdale, director of the Champagne Bureau.
“The award has run for over 30 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.”
The finalists this year are:
Professional –
Ben Portet, winemaker, Dominque Portet Winery
Peta Baverstock, winemaker
Greg Plowes, sommelier, Tetsuyas
Sharon Wild, wine educator and brand ambassador, Voyager Estate Winery
Amateur –
Dr Sean Stevens
Matthew Stutsel
Kaaren Palmer
Professor Tim Sullivan
Student –
Cameron O’Keefe, Wine, Spirit and Education Trust student
Yuri Berns, Curtin University