Thanks to the inescapable influence of the global luxury goods industry, Champagne is a universal byword for elegance and aspiration. But there is much more to Champagne than marketing. Real wine lives and breathes under all that polish—if you know where to look (hint: not under the yellow umbrella or in rap songs from the 90s). Join us to find out what actually makes proper Champagne one of the great wines of the world, from geology and farming to the painstaking production method and the vital role of bottle aging. Learn how the rise of the Grower Champagne movement shook the market dominance of the big brands and how they have risen to the challenge. Explore how organic farming has revitalized the region and how climate change will shape its future. Most importantly, taste a diverse flight of fabulous Champagnes and consider classic and innovative food pairings.
A native New Yorker, Oliver Longwell caught the wine bug in 2012 after a number of years working in government and politics. He has worked for leading wine retailers in New York and Los Angeles, with a particular focus on organically-farmed and natural wines. Oliver is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and works as a freelance wine consultant. He enjoys experimenting with fermentations, especially ciders. He and his wife moved to Northeast Portland in 2021 and welcomed a daughter in 2022.