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News
2nd place for UK at Champagne Ambassadors
Tim Hall, director of Scala Wine School, clinched second place at this year’s Champagne Ambassador’s competition.
l-r: Christine Mayr, Niek Beute and Tim Hall
The competition was won by Niek Beute, a sommelier and restaurateur from the Netherlands and third place went to Austrian candidate Christine Mayr.
Hall’s position means that the UK and Belgium are now the best-performing countries at the awards, which began nine years ago.
Two Britons have taken first place and three second place since 2005.
Hall commented: “After winning the UK final, the week in Champagne for the European final was just about the most stimulating and high quality professional experience for me ever.
“The organisation was superb, there were constant opportunities to see and talk at length with producers big and small and Comité Champagne members, who gave so much of their time.”
The winners were announced at a dinner in Epernay hosted by the Pascal Férat and Jean-Marie Barillère, co-presidents of the Comité Champagne.
Françoise Peretti, director of the Champagne Bureau UK, commented; “Once again, the UK has demonstrated the excellence of its wine education which is not only taught by expert and engaging educators in our country but is exported all over the world. 2014 will mark the 10th anniversary of these inspiring awards and we look forward to celebrating, hopefully with more UK wins”.