The most advanced champagne tasting course is back!

Read the full story of my inaugural Advanced Champagne Certificate, including photos and guest reflections.

‘Every champagne I’ve tasted since completing Tyson Stelzer’s Advanced Champagne Certificate has taken on a new significance because I can appreciate characters that I could never identify before! This was an absolute highlight of my champagne education – THE reference point for everything in the game.’ – Dr Matthew Peters⁠

Throughout my champagne journey, I have been privileged to countless ‘epiphany moments’ – tastings with chef de caves of unique components that offer a profound insight into the terroirs and techniques of the most complex and beguiling blends on earth.

My Advanced Champagne Certificate is the ultimate experience that encompasses each of these revelations in one unprecedented weekend.

Champagne lovers and professionals have expressed to me a desire to take their champagne insight to a new level not possible simply by drinking the cuvées, reading books or even visiting the region. To go further, to fully experience, recognise and appreciate the detail that every parcel and technique brings to the blend. The privilege of seeing, smelling, tasting and feeling the profound effect of each element in isolation affords the insight to recognise and appreciate the detail in every blend forever.

I could not find such a comprehensive, standalone, immersive experience anywhere in the champagne world.

Thanks to the support of some kind and talented friends in important places in Champagne, I am proud to announce that I have been able to achieve what I thought to be impossible and secure access to more than 50 cuvées and blend components, individual pieces of the grand champagne puzzle.

It’s my great pleasure to invite you to join me on this unique and unprecedented journey as we unpack the puzzle, discover the nuances of every piece, and reassemble them into the marvellous panorama that is champagne.

Spanning five masterclasses over two intensive days, we will go deep under the surface of the terroirs of each of Champagne’s key districts, explore the influence of each of its varieties and discover the effects of malolactic, tank and barrel fermentation, dosage, young, middle-age and old reserves, young and old disgorgements and young, old and very old vintages. Over two lunches we will explore the intricacies of vintage and prestige champagnes spanning six decades.

We will unravel each of the greatest cuvées of every one of champagne’s finest houses and growers, including Krug, Louis Roederer, Egly-Ouriet, Bollinger, Billecart-Salmon, Charles Heidsieck, Pol Roger, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Pierre Gimonnet, Vilmart, Larmandier-Bernier, Deutz, Robert Moncuit, Dumangin J Fils, Gosset, Fleury and Le Brun de Neuville.

I am privileged to showcase individual blend components, vins clairs, reserve wines and finished blends exemplifying different techniques from the great houses of Charles Heidsieck and Dumangin J Fils. I have chosen Charles Heidsieck, both for the depth of its outstanding reserves, and for the talent and dexterity of former chef de cave Cyril Brun in experimenting with different winemaking techniques. Gilles Dumangin’s fanatical approach and the elegant transparency of his northern Montagne de Reims terroirs provide the clarity for variety, maturity and technique to be displayed in glorious, articulate detail in the many samples that he has generously provided exclusively for this experience. All samples have been shipped door-to-door under pristine conditions at 14 degrees.

My Advanced Champagne Certificate is limited to 12 guests and will be held at Lumiere Events & Culinary Studio. Morning teas and three and five course long lunches will be created by Montrachet’s Shannon Kellam.

A comprehensive booklet will be provided to accompany each of the five masterclasses, and at the end of the course all participants will be awarded with Tyson Stelzer’s Advanced Champagne Certificate.

Join me as we explore the wonderland of champagne together and discover just how deep this rabbit hole goes!

Bookings are now open for my Advanced Champagne Certificate 1-2 February 2025. This was a sellout event in 2024 and tickets are strictly limited.

Champagne List

Masterclass 1: Champagne Terroir

Finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1 – Côte des Blancs grand cru chardonnay: Robert Moncuit Les Chétillons Blanc de Blancs 2013

Cuvée 2 – Côte des Blancs premier cru chardonnay: Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV

Cuvée 3 – Montagne de Reims chardonnay: Vilmart & Cie Blanc de Blancs Les Blanches Voies 2009

Cuvée 4 – Sézanne chardonnay: Le Brun de Neuville Authentique Par Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs NV

Flight 2:

Cuvée 5 – Northern Montagne de Reims grand cru pinot noir: Palmer & Co Blanc de Noirs NV

Cuvée 6 – Southern Montagne de Reims grand cru pinot noir: Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Vieille Vignes NV (2015 base)

Cuvée 7 – Côte des Bar pinot noir: Fleury BdN Blanc de Noirs Brut NV

Flight 3:

Cuvée 8 – Vallée de la Marne meunier: Gosset Grand Blanc de Meunier Extra-Brut NV

Cuvée 9 – Petite Montagne de Reims meunier: Egly-Ouriet Les Vignes de Vrigny Premier Cru NV

Masterclass 2: Champagne Vinification

Vins clairs and finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1 – Chardonnay: Dumangin J Fils Chardonnay Vin Clair 2022

Cuvée 2 – Pinot noir: Dumangin J Fils Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2022

Cuvée 3 – Meunier: Dumangin J Fils Meunier Vin Clair 2022

Flight 2:

Cuvée 4 – Full malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Aÿ Vin Clair 2020

Cuvée 5 – No malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Aÿ Vin Clair 2020

Cuvée 6 – Full malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Villers Marmery Vin Clair 2020

Cuvée 7 – No malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Villers Marmery Vin Clair 2020

Flight 3:

Cuvée 8 – Tank fermented: Dumangin J Fils Vintage 2012

Cuvée 9 – Barrel fermented: Dumangin J Fils Aegydius 2012 (same as Vintage 2012, except pinot barrel fermented)

Flight 4:

Cuvée 10 – Zero dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (zero dosage)

Cuvée 11 – Low dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (3.5g/L dosage)

Cuvée 12 – Medium dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (7g/L dosage)

Flight 5:

Cuvée 13 – Zero dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Rosé 2012

Cuvée 14 – Low dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Rosé 2012

Cuvée 15 – Medium dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Rosé 2012

Masterclass 3: Vintage Champagne Lunch

Finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1: Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs 2013

Cuvée 2: Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime 2012

Flight 2:

Cuvée 3: Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Fleuron Blanc de Blancs 2008 en magnum

Cuvée 4: Billecart-Salmon Vintage 2009

Flight 3:

Cuvée 5: Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2002

Cuvée 6: Veuve Clicquot Cave Privée 1989 en magnum

Masterclass 4: Champagne Maturation

Reserves and finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1 – Young reserve: Charles Heidsieck Vertus Chardonnay Reserve 2020

Cuvée 2 – Old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Vertus Chardonnay Reserve 2013

Cuvée 3 – Very old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Vertus Chardonnay Reserve 2007

Flight 2:

Cuvée 4 – Young reserve: Charles Heidsieck Verzy Pinot Noir Reserve 2020

Cuvée 5 – Old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Verzy Pinot Noir Reserve 2014

Cuvée 6 – Very old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Verzy Pinot Noir Reserve 2008

Flight 3:

Cuvée 7 – Recent disgorgement: Dumangin J Fils Le Vintage 2004 (disgorged 2021)

Cuvée 8 – Old disgorgement: Dumangin J Fils Le Vintage 2004 (disgorged 2016)

Flight 4:

Cuvée 9 – Young vintage: Dumangin J Fils Le Vintage 2015

Cuvée 10 – Old vintage: Dumangin J Fils Le Vintage 2005

Cuvée 11 – Very old vintage: Dumangin J Fils Le Vintage 1995

Masterclass 5: Prestige Champagne Lunch

Finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1: Deutz Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs 2013

Cuvée 2: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2008

Flight 2:

Cuvée 3: Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 2007

Cuvée 4: Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart 2008

Flight 3:

Cuvée 5: Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 en magnum

Cuvée 6: Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill 2002 en magnum

Flight 4:

Cuvée 7: Grande Cuvée Édition 170ème (Base 2014)

Cuvée 8: Krug Vintage 2006

Flight 5:

Cuvée 9: Dom Perignon P2 2002 en magnum

Cuvée 10: Veuve Clicquot Cave Privée Rosé 1990 en magnum

Program

Saturday

Masterclass 1: 8:45-11am

Morning tea: 11-11:30am

Masterclass 2: 11:30-1:15pm

Lunch masterclass 3: 1:15-4:30pm

Sunday

Morning tea: 9:30am

Masterclass 4: 10am-12pm

Lunch masterclass 5: 12:30-4:30pm

Bookings are now open for my Advanced Champagne Certificate 1-2 February 2025.

Lumiere Events & Culinary Studio

194 Breakfast Creek Rd Newstead QLD 4006

Cuisine created by Montrachet’s Shannon Kellam

Tickets strictly limited – $4990.

Read the full story of my inaugural Advanced Champagne Certificate, including photos and guest reflections.