Berry Bros fizz specialist wins Champagne award

Edwin Dublin, assistant manager of Berry Bros & Rudd’s St James’s Street wine shop, has scooped the 2011 UK Champagne Ambassador’s Award.

Held last week at The Dorchester hotel in London, candidates in the UK final faced a panel of high profile judges including the World’s Best Sommelier 2010 and founder of Hotel TerraVina, Gérard Basset OBE MW MS, as well as WSET managing director Ian Harris.

Finalists were given four different Champagne styles to taste and were asked to deliver a lecture on the art of blending in Champagne, where they were judged on their knowledge, communication skills and ability to bring the subject to life.

Seeing off competition from Plumpton College’s Matthew Hudson (right) and Helen Savage of Vine Visit (left), Dublin (centre) will go on to represent the UK and compete against national finalists from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland in the European final on 13 October in Epernay, where he will compete for the title of Best Champagne Educator 2011.

The winner will be announced at a gala dinner the following evening in Reims.

Launched in 2005 by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the award recognises and rewards the work of wine lecturers, tutors and teachers.