Christopher Walkey

Sad News that M.Pierre Cheval of Gatinois Champagne leaves us

By Christopher Walkey / 15th January 2016

When you work in the industry of Champagne and Sparkling Wine one thing is for sure, you will meet many engaging characters and sometimes you will also have the fortune to meet someone amazing and that is how I will describe the feeling after having met Pierre Cheval last year whilst on a trip with the UK…

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Does English Sparkling Wine need a new name?

Does English Sparkling Wine need a new name?

By Christopher Walkey / 9th December 2015

It is a topic that I hear from time to time when at tasting events, especially noted amongst the likes of Franciacorta, Cava and English Sparkling Wine. I think they are all fine personally, each have made a name for themselves and are relatively known in the sparkling wine sector with a growing list of…

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Staying with a Grower Champagne during Harvest.

Staying with a Grower Champagne during Harvest.

By Christopher Walkey / 17th September 2015

It is surely one of the most memorable experiences in the world of wine to be present at the grape harvest in the Champagne region of France. This year we were fortunate enough to be guests of Roger Constant Lemaire Champagne who are located in Villers-sous-Châtillon, a family run grower label with an increasingly recognised label across…

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Sabrage – How to open Champagne with a sword

By Christopher Walkey / 19th November 2013

For many of us it will all be about the excitement of untwisting the cage and popping the cork of that Champagne / sparkling wine bottle, but there is another way! It dates back to the Napoleonic era when victories were often celebrated with a Champagne sabrage where the bottle is opened by sliding along…

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