The effervescent Elisabeth Drysdale shares her champagne secrets

Is there one champagne rule that shouldn’t be broken?

The importance of the wine glass is paramount. Choosing the right wine glass is essential for the development of the bouquet and the effervescence — so too is the cleanliness of the glass. Champagne is best enjoyed in a tulip glass, tall enough to allow the bubbles and aromas to develop to the full.

What are you drinking a lot of?

That would be champagne! I drink at least one glass a day.

What’s the most under-rated drink more people should know about?

Blanc de noir is an interesting style that you dont see a lot of in Australia. It’s made exclusively from black-skinned grapes (pinot noir and or pinot meunier).

What’s the biggest challenge facing you at the moment?

Champagne is a unique wine and place. There are many wonderful sparkling wines produced in Australia and around the world, but only sparkling wine produced in Champagne, France, can be called champagne.

Name your special occasion bottle.

A prestige cuvee, which is a producer’s flagship champagne — a wine that stands as a benchmark. Vintage or non-vintage, these wines are made from the cream of the crop and are usually released in specially-designed bottles.

What bottle of champagne would you recommend for novices?

I would start with a non-vintage (NV). Non-vintage blends show consistent house style regardless of vintage variability. The house style is unique to each brand of champagne. You can shop around and find good NV’s from about $50 and up.

In 2014, champagne imports to Australia totalled 6,524,220 bottles making us the sixth-largest export market in the world for champagne. The Sydney Champagne Master Class is open to the public, Doltone House, Hyde Park, September 14, 6.30pm–8pm, tickets are $88.26 and include a tasting of 8-10 champagnes with canapés. Go to champagnebureau.iwannaticket.com.au for details.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, 25^th August 2015
Originally published as: The effervescent Elisabeth Drysdale shares her champagne secrets