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Kaaren Palmer

is a multi-award winning author and educator
on the subject of her passion – Champagne.

Dame-Chevalier
Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne
Gourmand International Food and Wine Book Awards,
Winner Best French Wine Book 2016

To read Kaaren Palmer’s full biography
please click here

14 January

Michel Drappier, of Champagne Drappier has achieved even more fame for his work, winning one of the great prizes, the Innovation Award, of the esteemed Revue de Vin de France journal. He has been recognised for his innovative work in producing a champagne with 100% carbon offsets. Last year, he was named the winegrower of the year by the Guide Hachette. Champagne Drappier deserves to be better known, and tasted more widely in Australia. The Drappier Carte d’Or, usually available at Dan Murphy’s, represents terrific value, while you’ll find a few of the other wonderful Champagne Drappier lines at United Cellars.

Sara Underdown’s wonderful first edition of her Vine & Bubble magazine is available for free download here. All 118 pages are dedicated to Champagne. Beautifully illustrated, professionally designed, all articles are written by experts in their field. Worth a browse, worth a read, worth a subscription. DO have a long look.

Business lounge champagne update, courtesy of Australian Business Traveller, please click here

last updated 14 January, 2019

this week

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2019…with of course as many wonderful champagnes as you can manage!

Kaaren Palmer

last updated December 21, 2018

30 November

My quick news; best buys, best of the week’s tastings,
where to buy and drink them, places newly discovered to drink champagne
and other snippets of interesting news.

Philippe Jamesse has left Les Crayères! After eighteen years as Head Sommelier, it’s rather sad that we won’t see him there any more.

Champagne Roger Brun reports success in the recent Glass of Bubbly 2018 Awards. A trophy in the Oaky & Toasty section went to La Pelle 2013, while the Cuvée des Sires Grand Cru 2013 achieved a Silver in the Classic and Elegant Section. Matt Wallace at Wines Direct has stock.

And, finally, The Drinks Business  provides us with 2018 harvest insights from Champagne Lanson’s chef de cave, the talented Hervé Dantan. On the same topic, Champagne Louis Roederer’s exceptional Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon speaks eloquently to Margaret Rand on the wine-searcher site.

At the Queen Adelaide Club Champagne and Lobster Lunch on Friday November 23, many people asked where they could find the champagnes that were so well-matched to each course. In most cases, the champagne’s distributor can refer you to where the sales outlets are. For the deliciously thrilling, crisply brilliant Champagne Philippe Glavier La Grace d’Alphaël Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV, the distributor is the discerning Victor Pugatschew at Champagne de Vigneron in Melbourne. The Deutz Rosé was sensational! Such flavour and elegance together is part of the art of champagne. Champagne Deutz is distributed by Matthew Quirk at QED Artisan Wines, while Champagne Louis Roederer is always available at your favourite wine retailer, although you may have to request one of vintage. The 2009 Vintage Brut was a very fine match indeed for the Rock Lobster Ravioli with Passionfruit Vinaigrette.