Tyson Stelzer’s Advanced Champagne Certificate
Introducing the most advanced champagne tasting course
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 46 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, Franck Bonville, Deutz, Veuve Fourny, 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 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 recently prepared and shipped door-to-door under pristine conditions of 14C.
My inaugural Advanced Champagne Certificate is limited to 14 guests and will be held at Montrachet, 1 King Street, Bowen Hills. Morning teas and three and five course long lunches will be created by Montrachet’s talented and ultra-champagne-sensitive 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!
After our inaugural Advanced Champagne Certificate sold out very quickly, we are pleased to announce new dates of the weekend of 18-19 June 2022.
Champagne List
Masterclass 1: Champagne Terroir
Finished cuvées
Listed cuvées are for our inaugural 2021 course and will be updated for subsequent dates.
Flight 1:
Cuvée 1 – Côte des Blancs grand cru chardonnay: Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay 2012
Cuvée 2 – Côte des Blancs premier cru chardonnay: Veuve Fourny & Fils Blanc de Blancs Vertus Premier Cru 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: Bollinger PN VZ15
Cuvée 6 – Southern Montagne de Reims grand cru pinot noir: Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Vieille Vignes NV (2012 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
Listed cuvées are for our inaugural 2021 course and will be updated for subsequent dates.
Flight 1:
Cuvée 1 – Chardonnay: Dumangin J Fils Chardonnay Vin Clair 2019
Cuvée 2 – Pinot noir: Dumangin J Fils Pinot Noir Vin Clair 2019
Cuvée 3 – Meunier: Dumangin J Fils Meunier Vin Clair 2019
Flight 2:
Cuvée 4 – Full malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Aÿ Vin Clair 2020
Cuvée 5 – No malolactic: Charles Heidsieck Villers Marmery Vin Clair 2020
Flight 3:
Cuvée 6 – Tank fermented: Dumangin J Fils Vintage 2012
Cuvée 7 – Barrel fermented: Dumangin J Fils Aegydius 2012 (same as Vintage 2012, except pinot barrel fermented)
Flight 4:
Cuvée 8 – Zero dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (zero dosage)
Cuvée 9 – Low dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (3.5g/L dosage)
Cuvée 10 – Medium dosage: Dumangin J Fils La Cuvée 17 NV (7g/L dosage)
Masterclass 3: Vintage Champagne Lunch
Finished cuvées
Listed cuvées are for our inaugural 2021 course and will be updated for subsequent dates.
Flight 1:
Cuvée 1: Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature Rosé 2012
Cuvée 2: Charles Heidsieck Millésime Vintage Rosé 2008
Flight 2:
Cuvée 3: Franck Bonville Collection Privée 2008
Cuvée 4: Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Millésime 2008
Flight 3:
Cuvée 5: Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2002
Cuvée 6: Deutz Brut Millésime 1990
Masterclass 4: Champagne Maturation
Reserves and finished cuvées
Listed cuvées are for our inaugural 2021 course and will be updated for subsequent dates.
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
Listed cuvées are for our inaugural 2021 course and will be updated for subsequent dates.
Flight 1:
Cuvée 1: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2004
Cuvée 2: Louis Roederer Cristal 2008
Flight 2:
Cuvée 3: Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 2002
Cuvée 4: Deutz Amour de Deutz 2002
Flight 3:
Cuvée 5: Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 168 NV (Base 2012)
Cuvée 6: Krug Vintage 2002
Flight 4:
Cuvée 7: Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1998
Cuvée 8: Dom Pérignon P2 1998
Flight 5:
Cuvée 9: Bollinger La Grande Année 2007
Cuvée 10: Veuve Clicquot Cave Privée Rosé 1979
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
Simla Room, Spicer’s Balfour Hotel, 37 Balfour St, New Farm, Brisbane
Places strictly limited – $4,890
We are of course working closely with the Spicer’s and Montrachet teams to guarantee that we do everything to ensure the safety of guests and fully comply with all relevant Covid restrictions. Should lockdown regulations force a postponement, we will of course offer you your choice of a full credit or refund. Should you be unable to attend on the weekend for reasons of health or travel restrictions, we will likewise offer you your choice of a full credit or refund. Please advise as early as possible if you are unable to attend.


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