Champagne Specialist: understanding and recommending Champagne

Tailor your knowledge about Champagne! In this interactive course, you will learn through theory workshops, games and role plays and structured tastings.

The course provides in-depth training of the various styles of Champagne, the unique terroir of the region, as well as the méthode champenoise, the production method used. Additionally, the acquisition of solid skills in tasting and recommending Champagnes, ensuring they are stored and served under optimal conditions to preserve their distinct characteristics. Lastly, an adept pairing of food with Champagne to enhance the dining experience, highlighting the flavours and effervescence of this celebrated beverage. A certificate is offered by the Comité Champagne, the official authority of the Champagne region.

Who is this certification for?
Wine merchants, sommeliers, restaurant professionals, buyers and sales personnel in the wine and spirits industry, professionals in wine tourism, wine journalists, importers, students in the hotel and restaurant industry and in the luxury industry
And, more generally, anyone seeking expertise in the field of tasting and recommending Champagne wines.

Assessment Methods:

• Test 1: a 30 minute, 30 multiple choice question paper (30%)
• Test 2: a 30 minute, two short written answer question paper (30%)
• Test 3: a 45 minute tasting of 2 Champagne wines (40%)

What you will Learn:

• Understanding and interpreting Champagne wine labels
• Having the ability to describe and access Champagne wines
• Knowing how to store and serve Champagne wines in optimal conditions
• Being able to recommend a Champagne wine by ascertaining a customer’s expectations and requirements and then making a range of proposals suited to their request.
• Knowing how to pair food and Champagne wine

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of 7 hours of preparatory work (doing the Champagne MOOC online course and reading the course text book)
• Fourteen hours of supervised learning with a trainer (4 x 3 hr classes and 2hr exam)
• Candidates should have a basic knowledge of tasting. The WSET Level 2 or 3 Award in Wines, or an equivalent level of experience, is recommended.
• Candidates must have reached the minimum legal drinking age.
• Students are required to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). More information regarding the USI can be found in our FAQs.

 Photo's courtesy of Comité Champagne