The most advanced champagne tasting course is back for its fifth year!

‘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

‘I travelled from London to Brisbane for it, and it was absolutely worth the journey.‘ – Rachel Roth (read Rachel’s full review)

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

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, such as 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, Lallier 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. Lallier for its pristine vins clairs under the visionary experimental approach of the talented Dominique Demarville. And 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 Hervé’s Restaurant in Albion. Morning teas and three and five course long lunches will be created by Shannon Kellam of Montrachet fame!

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!

See the full program of masterclass topics and cuvées in 2025, 2024, 2023 and 2022. We are planning a similar line up for 2026!

Bookings are now open for my Advanced Champagne Certificate 31 January – 1 February 2026. 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: Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Special Club Cramant Grand Cru 2015

Cuvée 2 – Côte des Blancs premier cru chardonnay: Veuve Fourny & Fils Monts de Vertus Blanc de Blancs 2012

Cuvée 3 – Montagne de Reims chardonnay: Jacquesson Dizy Corne Bautray 2012

Flight 2:

Cuvée 4 – Northern Montagne de Reims grand cru pinot noir: Bollinger PN VZ19

Cuvée 5 – Southern Montagne de Reims grand cru pinot noir: Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Vieille Vignes NV (2010 base)

Cuvée 6 – Côte des Bar pinot noir: Fleury BdN Blanc de Noirs Brut NV

Flight 3:

Cuvée 7 – Vallée de la Marne meunier: Billecart-Salmon Les Rendez-vous de Billecart-Salmon No 3 Meunier Extra-Brut NV

Cuvée 8 – 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 2023

Cuvée 2 – Pinot noir: Dumangin J Fils Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2023

Cuvée 3 – Meunier: Dumangin J Fils Meunier Vin Clair 2023

Flight 2:

Cuvée 4 – Full malolactic: Lallier Oger Chardonnay Vin Clair 2025 full malolactic

Cuvée 5 – No malolactic: Lallier Oger Chardonnay Vin Clair 2025 no malolactic

Cuvée 6 – Full malolactic: Lallier Ambonnay Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 full malolactic

Cuvée 7 – No malolactic: Lallier Ambonnay Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 no malolactic

Cuvée 8 – Full malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Fontette Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 full malolactic

Cuvée 9 – No malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Fontette Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 no malolactic

Flight 3:

Cuvée 10 – Tank fermented: Lallier Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Chardonnay Vin Clair 2025 stainless-steel vat

Cuvée 11 – Barrel fermented: Lallier Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Chardonnay Vin Clair 2025 barrel

Cuvée 12 – Tank fermented: Lallier Aÿ Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 stainless steel vat

Cuvée 13 – Barrel fermented: Lallier Aÿ Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 Parcellaire Les Sous foudre

Cuvée 14 – Foudre fermented: Lallier Aÿ Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2025 Parcellaire Cochemont foudre

Cuvée 15 – Tank fermented: Charles Heidsieck Cuchery Meunier Vin Clair 2025 stainless steel vat

Cuvée 16 – Barrel fermented: Charles Heidsieck Cuchery Meunier Vin Clair 2025 barrrel

Flight 4:

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

Cuvée 18- Low dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (3.5g/L dosage)

Cuvée 19- Medium dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (7g/L dosage)

Masterclass 3: Vintage Champagne Lunch

Finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1: Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Special Club Premier Cru Cuis 2018

Cuvée 2: Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs 2014

Flight 2:

Cuvée 3: Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime 2013

Cuvée 4: Billecart-Salmon Extra-Brut Vintage 2008

Flight 3:

Cuvée 5: Deutz William Deutz 2002

Cuvée 6: Dom Pérignon P2 1998

Masterclass 4: Champagne Maturation

Reserves and finished cuvées

Flight 1:

Cuvée 1 – Young reserve: Charles Heidsieck Villers-Marmery Chardonnay Reserve 2025

Cuvée 2 – Old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Villers-Marmery Chardonnay Reserve 2019

Cuvée 3 – Very old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Villers-Marmery Chardonnay Reserve 2009

Flight 2:

Cuvée 4 – Young reserve: Charles Heidsieck Tauxières Pinot Noir Reserve 2025

Cuvée 5 – Old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Tauxières Pinot Noir Reserve 2019

Cuvée 6 – Very old reserve: Charles Heidsieck Tauxières Pinot Noir Reserve 2013

Flight 3:

Cuvée 7 – Recent disgorgement: Dumangin J Fils Le Vintage 2004 (disgorged 2024)

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

Flight 4:

Cuvée 9 – Young base vintage: Dumangin J Fils Le Rosé NV (2015 base vintage)

Cuvée 10 – Old base vintage: Dumangin J Fils Le Rosé NV (2005 base vintage)

Cuvée 11 – Very old base vintage: Dumangin J Fils Le Rosé NV (1995 base vintage)

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 2012

Cuvée 6: Rare Champagne Vintage 2012

Flight 4:

Cuvée 7: Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1998

Cuvée 8: Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut 2008

Flight 5:

Cuvée 9: Krug Grande Cuvée Édition 170ème (Base 2014)

Cuvée 10: Krug Vintage 2008

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 31 January – 1 February 2026.

Hervé’s Restaurant, Albion

Tickets strictly limited – $4990.