Dream trip for bubbles king
GEELONG bubbles connoisseur Cam O’Keefe is the official champagne king of Australia.
It was fourth time lucky for the Centra Hotel owner who took out top honours in the professional category of the prestigious biennial Vin de Champagne Awards in Sydney recently.
The win will have him jet off on an educational tour through France’s Champagne district.
“I’ve been to Champagne quite a few times but not with this kind of insight,” he said. “We get to tour around the different houses and get wined and dined.
“Champagne people are very well known for their hospitality, so it’s the trip of a lifetime.”
Mr O’Keefe will leave in two weeks’ time for a fortnight.
“It’s a trip that money can’t buy because there are a lot of appointments with different wine makers.”
The competition process was a gruelling one comprising three blind tastings, an essay component and an interview with a panel of five Australian wine identities “They fire off a whole heap of questions relating to champagne,” Mr O’Keefe said.
“That all happens during the day and then they reveal the winners that evening at the gala.”
Asked if there was any curly questions, the local business owner said "not as in previous years”.
“Or maybe my preparation was a bit better (fourth time around) I’m not too sure,” he said.
Mr O’Keefe will make the overseas journey with the winner of the amateurs section, Nicky Goodyer of New South Wales.
Centra Hotel is set to host 25 producers in an innovative new event titled Champagne Supernova on November 15.
The ticketed evening will offer around 60 Champagne varieties for tasting.
“It’s on a scale that hasn’t ever been seen in Geelong before," Mr O’Keefe said.
For more details visit champagnesupernova.com.au or phone the venue on 5224 1515.