• Sunday, April 16th @ 3:30PM in Downtown LA’s Arts District 
• Saturday, May 6th @ 3:30PM in Santa Monica
• Sunday, May 21st @ 3:30PM in Tarzana/Encino 

April 13th – Who doesn’t love Champagne? Especially 21 different sparkling side by side!  Yes – you read that correctly, we taste 21 different selections, 3-at-a-time and blind. The crowd roars when we reveal which you preferred. It’s as much fun as you can have wine tasting!  These luxurious tasting events give you great insights as we cover the details of each wine after it is revealed. We tell you what you’re tasting, just not which glass it is in!  This is a tasting program that has been perfected by Sommelier Ian Blackburn and he is a most excellent host for the spontaneous excitement this event creates! It must be seen to be believed.

Upcoming Dates 

• Sunday, April 16th @ 3:30PM, The Champagne Challenge 
  • At COMUNITYmade in the Arts District of Downtown LA – Get tickets here!
  • A Blanc de Blancs showcase!
• Saturday, May 6th @ 3:30PM, The “Caviar Eggs Benedict” Edition of the Champagne Challenge!
  • At Papille Gustative in Santa Monica (home of “LA’s Best Benedict” ) … we will be leaning into ROSÉ top wines at this gathering – Cristal Rosé ($700)  and the new wine from Brad Pitt and Pierre Peters ($350) will be included…  Get tickets here! 
• Sunday, May 21st @ 3:30PM, The Champagne Challenge
  • This session will be hosted at Traktir in Encino / Sherman Oaks (a new venue for us – Ukrainian owned Eastern European and Russian Cuisine – one of LA’s best! – all guests will get a plate of extraordinary appetizers perfect for Champagne)  Get tickets here!

Example Wine List (From upcoming April 16th event)

Each and every session features a unique line with very few wines repeated

Champagne Challenge list – The Battle of Blanc de Blancs:

1. Pick you favorite in each flight (most important)

2. There will be 2 wines that are not from Champagne – see if you can find them.

3. The wine list is insane with both vintage and top non-vintage producers… a top producer list with many smaller, higher end wines and many more premium vintage bottlings.

4. We will taste over $2000 worth of Blanc de Blancs and be served with a petite gourmet cheese plate with bread and/or crackers…. From Beverly Hills Cheese Store.

5. There will be one wine in the line up that is not a blanc de blancs – can you find that? HINT – It is the Costco Champagne at $20…. this is as much fun as you can have wine tasting!

This is our best wine line up yet for the Champagne Challenge!

1. A.R. Lenoble Blanc de Blancs, Chouilly, Grand Cru, Brut, Champagne, France, 2008 (94 Points)
2. Café de Paris, Blanc de Blancs Brut, France, NV
3. Champagne Henriot, Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, NV (93 Points)
4. Claude Cazals, ‘Clos Cazals’ Blanc de Blancs, Vieille Vigne, Extra-Brut, Grand Cru Oger, Champagne, France, 2012
5. Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Mesnil-sur-Oger-Champagne, France, NV (93 Points)
6. Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, Vintage Brut, Champagne, France, 2014 (93 Points)  
7. Doyard, Cuvée Vendémiaire, Blanc de Blancs, Brut 1er Cru, Champagne, France, NV (92 Points)  
8. Esterlin, Éclat Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, NV  
9. Gaston Chiquet, Blancs de Blancs, d’Aÿ, Grand Cru, Champagne, France, NV (92 Points)
10. J.L. Vergnon, ‘Conversation’ Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru, Champagne, France, NV (93 Points)
11. J.P. Chenet, Blanc de Blancs, Brut France, NV (89 Points)
12. Laurent-Perrier, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Nature, Champagne, France, NV (95 Points)  
13. Marc Hébrart, Mes Favorites 1er Cru Brut, Vieilles Vignes, Champagne, France, NV (93 Points)  
14. Pierre Moncuit, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France, 2008 (94 Points)
15. Pierre Péters, Cuvée de Réserve, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Grand Cru, Champagne, France, NV (95 Points)
16. Ployez-Jacquemart, Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France, 2010
17. Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Champagne, France, NV (93 Points)
18. Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, 2011 (97 Points)  
19. Thiénot, La Vigne Aux Gamins Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, 2009 (95 Points)
20. Varnier-Fanniere, Blanc de Blancs, Cuvée Saint Denis, Grand Cru, Brut, Champagne, France, NV (93 Points) 
21. Costco Champagne 

Ian Blackburn is an educational ambassador for the region of Champagne and has hosted Champagne classes at major universities, private clubs, and for various retailers on the west coast.