A warm vintage troubled by rapidly proliferating botrytis in the vineyards. With cellars filled up to the rim with fine 2008 and 2009 champagnes and the global financial crisis slowing sales, few vintage releases were declared. But the ones ones that were have brought about great surprises, the finest of them to date being Dom […]

In 2012, after a chaotic growing season with April frosts, hailstorms and a depressingly wet summer, the champenois’ expectations had been lowered to a minimum when fine August weather came to rescue. The high quality of the minuscule crop year’s base wines cheered up the mood already at blending time, but the vintage still continues […]

Many of us have a little more time on our hands in these difficult times , so Essi and Nick Baker of the English Champagne merchant thefinestbubble.com wanted to bring a little cheer and education when there isn’t much reason to celebrate. Since March 27th we have gathered with a great bunch of Champagnee lovers […]

Confined each to our own nooks, Krug brought journalists from the Nordic countries together yesterday via Krug Connect for a launch of the 168th Edition of Grande Cuvée. Bottles had be sent to us in advance, so that we could discuss whilst sharing a glass of the house’s newest baby. For the first time in […]

Issue number 67 of The World of Fine Wine magazine is out. Essi Avellan’s feature in it is about Champagne prestige cuvée rosés. She is covering the iconic pink cuvées Billecart-Salmon Alexandra Rosé, Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé, Deutz Amour de Deutz, Dom Pérignon Rosé, Krug Rosé, Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rosé, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé, Pommery […]

Tom Stevenson’s and Essi Avellan’s Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine made it to the Top 3 in the category ‘Wine Education’ in the Gourmand Awards 2020. Thus it is entitled to the Best in the World certificate.   The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau. Every year, […]

Club Oenologique is an exclusive community for those who enjoy the rarer pleasures of life. With its flagship magazine and exclusive events, it offer access to fine wines and spirits, art, theatre, literature and architecture. The aim is simple: to speak to the modern, discerning consumer who appreciates the new, the scarce, the interesting, the […]

Welcome to the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC) is the only international sparkling wine competition judged by sparkling wine specialists (Tom Stevenson, Essi Avellan MW and George Markus), for the new generation of sparkling wine consumers who enjoy sparkling wine on any occasion. The CSWWC endorses […]

Rarely do you meet a vine grower and winemaker who lives and breaths his wine philosophy as Bertrand Gautheron does. When you visit him you will very quickly realize that biodynamics is not a marketing concept here. He will take you up to his Vouette and Sorbée vineyards (lending their names to the domaine) adjacent […]

If you are looking for bubbly reading or wish to engage on armchair travel to Champagne, we have now put on a special price for Essi Avellan’s Champagne on most of Amazon’s European market places. The new price is 22EUR/20GBP (old price 35EUR/32GBP).   – A Guide for Champagne Lovers and Gourmet Travellers Essi Avellan […]