My clever mate Marty

My friend Martin (pictured here second from right) has won the amateur section of the Vin De Champagne awards for 2006. He's so clever. To win you have to answer a range of detailed questions about champagne flavour profiles, production, and food matching, and the responses are judged by a panel of experts.

The awards dinner was held last week at Glass Brasserie at the Sydney Hilton. Seven amazing courses from the hands of Luke Mangan were matched to fifteen Champagnes from the houses of:- Ayala, Bollinger, Bruno Paillard, Charles Heidsieck, Laurent-Perrier, Lanson, Louis Roederer, Moet et Chandon, Mumm, Nicolas Feuillatte, Pol Roger, Ruinart, Taittinger, Veuve Devaux and Veuve Clicquot. Now he's off for a 2 week study tour of the Champage district with the winners in the other sections. Such dedication to research *sigh*.