Each year, 16 lucky candidates are selected to attend a week of immersive education like no other in Champagne hosted by our 16 contributing Grande Marque houses. Upon completing the tastings and exams set in the region, they are then invited to join the Academy and enjoy our dinners, functions and educational events throughout the year, all whilst raising money for The Drinks Trust Charity.
We need to go back a little earlier to April 1941 with the creation of the Comité Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), with Comte Robert-Jean de Vogüe at its head, to conduct negotiations on behalf of all interests in the Champagne vineyards during the war. In the early fifties, with personal commercial and civil recovery still aspirational, a similar spirit of common enterprise brought together those Houses that had led exports before the war. Comte Robert-Jean de Vogüe, Paul Krug, and Jean-Charles Heidsieck looked ahead to better times and, in particular, the British market – un marché du connoisseurs.
Twelve Houses formulated a project and in 1956, just 15 years after the formation of the CIVC, launched L’Academie du Champagne. The twelve houses were: Bollinger, Charles Heidsieck, Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, Krug, Lanson, Moët & Chandon, Heidsieck & Co Monopole, G H Mumm, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger, Pommery & Greno, and Louis Roederer
12 members of the wine trade in the UK and Ireland were invited to Champagne to attend a course to educate them in all aspects of the history, production, marketing, and appreciation of the finest champagne. Two years after the initial course, with feelings of great gratitude and essentially led by Peter Lyons, the Champagne Academy was formed in the U.K.
In an Editorial of the very first Gazette produced in France in 1959 the following was written:
"Our aim can only be achieved if each of us, in the course of our contribution to the functioning of the Academy, sees fit to forget the competitive spirit which, from the point of view of business, necessarily inspires us."
We hope that alumnae who have attended courses during this period will bear witness to our teamwork which alone can ensure the future of our Association.
Notable Academicians from those first few years included Michael Broadbent, David Peppercorn and Lionel Frumkin. I’m pleased to say that to this day Lionel attends the Annual Dinner every year. In 1987 four additional houses joined the original twelve. These were: Laurent-Perrier, Piper Heidsieck, Ruinart, and Taittinger
For many years only male wine trade members were invited on to the Course, until in 1976 I was invited to attend. I and 11 men duly travelled to France but apparently due to Valerie being a man’s name in France, they were not expecting me. We were all billeted in groups of three, but at the last minute my two companions were moved to another room. One of them is still a good friend, who I believe has dined on this story for many years. Having devoured Patrick Forbes’ book on Champagne I was astounded on our very first day, being a Sunday to find Patrick giving us our first lecture. Every day was the same, with the Head from each House personally instructing us. Every day we had magnificent lunches and dinners. In those days we finished off the Course with a trip to Paris and a very memorable night at The Lido.
In 1982 the CA celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a dinner at The Mansion House in the presence of the Rt Hon, The Lord Mayor, Sir Christopher Leaver G.B.E, an old boy from 1966. In 2000 the Annual Dinner was held at The Savoy, London and was the first time that members were allowed to bring a guest and ladies, other than members, were permitted to attend. This practice has continued to this day.
In 2006 the Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary with a wonderful weekend in Champagne which coincided with the end of that year’s Course. For the first time girls outnumbered boys on the Course and five of the new members attended the celebrations with their Academician fathers.
I have had the honour of being the Administrator since 2008 and have served under 14 Chairmen.
Val Simpson - Academy Administrator
History of the Champagne Academy
The Committee
The Houses
House Representatives
Brand Manager
It has to be: “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it, unless I’m thirsty.” Madame Lily Bollinger, October 1961
Champagne Bollinger
Elise Mather
Partnerships, Events & Challenger Brand Manager
Victor Lanson, of Champagne Lanson
"I make wine for myself. What I can't drink, I sell!"
Champagne Lanson & Champagne Heidseick Monopole
Tara Gardner
Brand Manager for Champagne Louis Roederer
'A magnum is the perfect bottle size for 2 friends when 1 is not drinking' - JBL
Champagne Louis Roederer
Alexandra Tilling
Wine specialist
I only drink champagne in two occasions, when I’m in love and when I’m not. (Coco Chanel)
Champagne Perrier-Jouët & Champagne GH Mumm
Viktoriya Bryksa
Sales Director - Pol Roger Portfolio
"A magnum is the perfect size for two people, so long one one them is your wine waiter" Sir Winston Churchill
Champagne Pol Roger
Jonathan Smailes
International Key Account Manager
“Pleasure without Champagne is purely artificial.” Oscar Wilde.
Champagne Pommery
Nea Pettinen
UK Director
“Only the unimaginative can fail to find a reason for drinking champagne” - Oscar Wilde
Champagne Pommery
Sara Hicks
Represent the interest of the Taittinger Family in the UK & Eire markets. Sales, Education, Ambassadorial, Consumer & Hospitality facing
"Rudolf Nureyev used to say “when I drink Comtes de Champagne Rosé, I don’t dance anymore, I fly”
Champagne Taittinger
Kevin McKee
UK Ambassador
Champagne Taittinger
Ben Lynskey
UK Marketing Manager
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right." - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Champagne Taittinger
Katherine Wilson
Senior Brand Development Manager, Charles Heidsieck, UK and Ireland.
Charles Heidsieck
Simon Stockton
Wholesale Channel Manager. I manage On-Trade Route to Market Wholesalers in the UK
"In victory, you deserve champagne. In defeat, you need it." - Napoleon Bonaparte
Laurent-Perrier
Guy Jones
Champagne Ambassador Moet Hennessy UK
Why do I drink Champagne for breakfast? Doesn’t everyone?” - Noel Coward, English playwright
Moet, Veuve Clicquot, Krug and Ruinart
Jacqueline Kobald