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CIVC launches competition for wine educators

Published:  23 July, 2008

The Comit Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the trade organisation which represents Champagne houses and growers, has introduced a pan-European competition aimed at rewarding anyone who teaches, lectures or educates on the subject of Champagne.

It is aimed at anyone who teaches at a hotel and catering school, university, wine academy, wine tasting school, wine appreciation society or any other organisation dedicated to wine training.

The top prize for the UK finalist will be an educational week in the Champagne region. He or she will then compete against the best of the best of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and the overall winner of the 1st European Competition of Champagne Ambassadors will be awarded a 'CIVC Club des Ambassadeurs' Champagne diploma', a double magnum of vintage Champagne and a Champagne dinner for two in a UK three-Michelin-star restaurant.

To enter, UK candidates need to complete the detailed application form which can found on the competition's dedicated website, www.lesambassadeursduchampagne.com. This form then needs to be submitted by post to Natalie Jeune, The Champagne Information Bureau, Babmaes House, 2 Babmaes Street, London SW1Y 6HD. The final deadline for entries is Monday 12 September 2005.

Daniel Lorson, CIVC's director of communications, said: 'The new annual competition aims to recognise and reward the work of wine lecturers, tutors and teachers who we consider to be Europe's greatest ambassadors of Champagne.'

A national jury consisting of a wine educator, sommelier, the director of the Champagne Information Bureau (UK) and a CIVC representative will nominate a single candidate to represent the UK in the International Final, which will take place in Epernay.

The competition will consist of three stages. First, written applications will be assessed on their professional experience and achievements, Champagne knowledge, and food and Champagne pairing flair. Five semi-finalists will then be put through their paces in a 45-minute interview with the jury. Prizes will be awarded to three semi-finalists. The eight national finalists will then compete in the International Final in Epernay.

The eight national finalists will spend a week in the Champagne region from 21 to 26 November 2005. Judged by a jury of wine professionals from each participating country, the final four-part examination will ask the teachers to: prepare and present a 30-minute lesson on a specific Champagne topic; demonstrate how a Champagne should be tasted and comment on three different blends; perform a public-speaking exercise about a particular theme; and match Champagne appropriately with food.

All enquiries should be directed to natalie.j@peretti.com or 020 7915 4788.

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