Champagne tasting at its finest!

Tyson Stelzer, the Don of all things Champagne, creates delicious events for trade/media and public. 

Tyson’s events are eagerly anticipated by both industry insiders and discerning Champagne enthusiasts. Recently, I attended an annual gathering of trade and media at The Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. Here he created a platform for tasting quality champagnes from prestige household names to smaller champagne houses. 

I stole Tyson away for a coveted 10 minutes to discuss the future of Champagne, along with his top tips, trends, vision and the influence and incorporation of AI in the Champagne industry.

Please view the two interviews below with Tyson Stelzer at Taste Champagne Australia 2023 – Trade and Media event. Click on the image below to start the video and hear Tyson discuss the latest Australian consumer trends in Champagne and a little about his event.

Above: Top down L to R: The scene is set at The Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. Petra Harmer-Shrowder, author of Hold the Prosecco, with Tyson Stelzer. Brad Partridge, House of Wine showing off the rather delicious bottle of Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2014.

Click on the image below to start the video with Tyson Stelzer talking about his take on how AI is being used and can be used in the Champagne industry.

Above, Gary Olasz, Coravin (this is one of the most wonderful devices for hospitality trade and personal use. For restaurants, they can open vintage bottles and take just a glass and then reseal without compromising the bottle or removing the cork).

Within these occasions, cherished by Champagne lovers, suppliers, makers and media, you will be sure to taste a few new champagnes and this year was no exception. For me it was the Champagne Canard-Duchêne Vintage 2014 which was creamy and delicious, hailing from Ludes, a village south of Reims. This can be purchased through Coles Corporate Liquor.

On to the competition:

Q (1) How many twists do you need to open a bottle of Champagne?

Question donated by Brad Partridge, House of Fine Wine Victoria who allowed me to taste Bollinger La Grande Année 2014 (which is an assembly of 19 crus mostly from Ay and Versenay 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay from Chouilly and Oiry ) rrp $240

Q (2) If there is no year indicated on the label of champagne, what does it mean?

Hint, if you look on the Champagne Canard-Duchêne website all will be revealed.

The Prizes are:

Tyson Stelzer has donated a fabulous group of prizes for this competition, they include:

• Tyson’s Champagne Guide 2020-2021 VI edition: this exquisite gold leaf coffee table book covers all things Champagne from Champagne houses to the making of, and lists the best Champagnes of these years. It is a beautiful book of knowledge which will be an asset to any home.

• Tyson has also gifted one of his silver branded champagne closure
• Glass polishing cloth.

House of Fine Wine have kindly donated:

• A gorgeous bottle of Champagne Ayala Rosé Majeur NV. This Champagne house is still privately owned and has been since its birth in 1860. The Champagne focuses on the fruit which is generous in nature and brings freshness and finesse to this blended rosé, composed of 24 exceptional crus.

For the lucky winner sit back and relax open your champagne and enjoy it with some salmon, lamb or a fruit tart (recommended by the house) 🙂 and flick through the beautiful gold leaves of the very special book on Champagne.

Notes

Competition open to all residents in Victoria. To enter please email: Holdtheprosecco@gmail.com

The prize winner will be drawn on November 1, 2023. The prize may be collected that week. A picture of the winner will be announced on the Hold The Prosecco Instagram page.

Please subscribe to Holdtheprosecco its quick and easy and it means you won’t miss out on any cool articles, tips or fun competitions.