By James Atkinson
A four-day reunion for the 45 previous Vin de Champagne winners is currently underway in France to mark the awards' 40th anniversary.
The June 24-28 event organised by Australia's Champagne Bureau and the Comité Champagne brings together recipients of the Award from all over Australia for an educational tour of the region.
Regarded as having the best Champagne palates in Australia, past winners include those who have won the award in either the professional or amateur section in the last forty years.
The judging of the Award is completed by a panel of industry experts and past winners that include Huon Hooke, Peter Bourne and Bernadette O’Shea.
The grand prize for the two winners is a two-week educational tour to the Champagne district where they receive their medal from the Comité Champagne and enjoy the legendary Champenois hospitality.
Entries for the 2014 awards – now open on the Champagne Bureau website – close on July 11.