June 1, 2020
While I was practicing a Schubert sonata for my upcoming piano concert the bell rang: a mysterious package had been delivered to my door. I stood perplexed to discover that it was the brand new Bollinger La Grande Année 2012! What a privilege...
May 18, 2020
I visited my girlfriend in London to attend a majestic 4 hour Beethoven concert. I also had meals in prestigious restaurants like The Northall “Corinthia”, Céleste (not quite recommended though), Atelier Robuchon and shared romantic moments together. Such a pleasant surprise to find my favorite champagne producers on their menu’s! That was just before the corona lockdown and now I am basically stuck in London...
July 13, 2018
The family Brun has been making wines for generations. Léonr Brun, the great grandfather learned the craft of making champagne while working with Moët & Chandon in the early 1900s during the phylloxera crisis. Since then, the talent of winemaking has been spreading through the region. By the turn of the 20th century, the Brun family counted up to 120 members. So far, it has generated 3 different brands: Edouard Brun, René Brun and Roger Brun.
July 4, 2018
Let me let you in on a little secret: Clos des Goisses was the first single vineyard champagne that I have ever tasted. This happened about 12 years ago, at the private reception of a Sibelius concert in Bruges where they served a Clos des Goisses 1998. Not even a flute, but in a wineglass. This champagne was sensational with luxurious aromas of butterscotch, earth, toffee, freshly roasted Java coffee and cigar smoke. It tasted powerful, complex and vinous,yet also exquisitely refined and it lingered immensely long on the palate. Tasting this champagne gave me a similar sensation to enjoying one of the great red Burgundies and I felt like a king drinking it...
June 15, 2018
What I like about Jean-Pierre is that he is a very positive person. Even if you don’t know him personally and just google his name, you’ll find out he’s smiling and always in a good mood in the photos. I personally think, such an attitude is transferred to everything and everyone around him, and it’s one of the secrets why his champagnes are so good. I’ve already proved to myself that it takes a nice person to make a nice champagne...
About us
The Champagnist is a platform for the enthusiast that offers in-depth information about champagne. You can expect articles about Grand Marques, growers, trends; as well as reviews and video reports and comprehensive tasting notes.
This international project is a collaboration of champagne experts each with their own background: critics, WSET certified wine teachers, certified sommeliers, champagne entrepreneurs and chefs. The Champagnist is always welcoming new authors. Feel free to contact us for terms and conditions on becoming a contributor to this project.
The tasting panel
Michiel Demarey (BE)
Founder | Contributor | Editor-in-Chief
Yuri Guzeev (RU)
Contributor | WSET 2
Jan Bouquet (BE)
Taster
Gomaar Laureyns (BE)
Taster | WSET certified wine teacher
François Callebout (BE)
Taster
Supporting team
Gudrun Huvelier (BE)
Senior editor | Sommelier-conseil & Wine teacher
Ed Hodson (USA)
Editor | Certified Sommelier & WSET
Philippe Steelandt (BE)
Professional cameraman
Filip Bossuwé (BE)
Gastronomic chef