Leiths School of Food and Wine are delighted to announce that Richard Bampfield MW, has been awarded the title of European Champagne Ambassador 2009. Richard, who lectures on wine and Champagne to Leiths diploma students and runs Champagne tasting evenings at Leiths, comments “Drinking Champagne is one of life’s great pleasures and helping others appreciate Champagne has always felt more like a labour of love than real work. I am really proud and excited to have won this award against 8 strong candidates from the rest of Europe.”

The CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne) established the European award in 2005 to recognise and reward the work of wine lecturers, tutors and teachers around Europe. This is a unique competition in the wine world as it is only open to teachers and trainers who specialise in teaching Champagne tasting, either within a public or private catering school, within a training centre or within a wine appreciation club.

The ‘Grand Prix’ was awarded to Richard after a gruelling week of tests, tours and tasting around the Champagne region, competing against seven European national finalists. On Thursday the finalists faced a panel of nine judges (one judge drawn from the homeland of each competitor plus a head juror) and were asked to give presentations and answer questions relating to this year’s theme of ‘Rosé Champagnes’. The results were announced at the gala dinner evening in Reims.

Richard is an experienced wine professional with over 27 years in the international wine business, he is also Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators, and lectures on all subjects for the WSET.
Richard will be hosting a Champagne tasting evening at Leiths School of Food and Wine on 14 December from 7 -9pm please contact us for further details.