Effervescence LA Champagne and Sparkling Wine Festival Debuts in May

Photo credit: Samantha Slaven Publicity

You know that saying about April showers? Well, you can expect a downpour in May as well – one that will have you buzzing all summer! Effervescence, the first major West Coast event entirely devoted to Champagne and sparkling wine, makes its debut in Los Angeles May 3-5, featuring master classes taught by renowned industry experts. The three-day fiesta will also feature Champagne and sparkling wine tasting events at the historic Avalon Hollywood, and an exclusive gala dinner for collectors, winemakers and enthusiasts prepared by chef Walter Manzke at République. 

With events designed for the novice and connoisseur alike, the Effervescence tastings and seminars take place at Avalon Hollywood downtown, starting with More Bubbles—Sparkling Wine Extravaganza on Friday. The walk-around tasting features an international lineup of sparkling wine producers, including Ridgeview and Gusbourne Estate from the U.K. and Eric Bordelet and François Chidaine from France. Many of the winemakers will be pouring at the tasting. 
 
On Saturday afternoon, it’s all about Champagne!Tastings feature Grandes Marques such as Krug, Bollinger, Phillipponnat, Ruinart, and Veuve Clicquot, alongside a broad scope of artisanal grower-producers such as Laherte Frères, Vilmart et Cie, Goutorbe-Bouillot, Agrapart, and André Clouet. Again, many of the proprietors and winemakers will be present.

Master classes will take place over the course of the three-day event series, and will include a tasting led by Richard Juhlin, Champagne authority and author who holds the world record for most Champagnes tasted (currently more than 8500), as he delves into how Champagne evolves in the cellar. Patrick Comiskey, a wine columnist at the Los Angeles Times, will conduct a class on international sparkling wines, and Jérôme Jacoillot, the winemaker at Krug, will guide attendees through an exploration of the Chardonnay grape. 
 
Extraordinary gourmet meals are planned throughout, beginning with a Thursday night Collector Champagne Dinner prepared by chef Casey Lane at Viale dei Romani at the new Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. On Friday, chef Manzke will prepare a Collector Champagne Luncheon at République, honoring the 200th anniversary of Billecart-Salmon and featuring the auction of a magnum of 1961 Billecart-Salmon. Effervescence’s grand finale will be a Paulée-style Champagne Gala Dinner on Saturday night, when Manzke will prepare a luxurious meal to accompany an array of rare and vintage Champagnes.

Simply cannot believe your luck that this is happening in Los Angeles? Well, look at this complete schedule and start planning your first weekend in May!
Thursday, May 3rd

• Geoff Kruth Champagne Master Class, ‘The Grande Marques Reconsidered’
• Patrick Comiskey Master Class, ‘You Say Bubbles, I Say Sparkling Wine’
• Collector Champagne Dinner at Viale dei Romani with Jérôme Jacoillot featuring Krug wines, and Chef Casey Lane

Friday, May 4th

• Collector Champagne Luncheon at République with Chef Walter Manzke celebrating Billecart-Salmon’s 200th anniversary
• Juhlin Champagne Master Class, ‘Mature Champagnes – How Champagne Ages Over The Years’
• More Bubbles Sparkling Wine Tasting
• National sommelier competition designed to identify an annual American “Top Sparkling Sommelier”
• Champagne Auction

Saturday, May 5th

• Juhlin Champagne Master Class, ‘Champagne Hiking – The Missing Piece’
• Krug Champagne Master Class, Jérôme Jacoillot, ‘The Story of Krug’
• Grand Champagne Tasting
• Vilmart & Cie & Pierre Peters Champagne Master Class
• Champagne Gala Dinner featuring Walter Manzke – winemakers & guests bring their best bottles 

Fun fact – one of the very last magnums of Billecart-Salmon 1961 on the planet, largely considered as “the best” bottle of Champagne in the world, will be auctioned at the event’s Collector’s Luncheon on May 4. A portion of the proceeds from Effervescence will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation, which funds cancer research, and Heal the Bay. 
 
Tickets for Effervescence start at $125 and are on sale now, with events available for purchase in packages or à la carte. Additional wineries are being added weekly, so refer to the site for the most current list of participants. Mix and mingle with serious Champagne collectors, luxury consumers, and adventurous aficionados of bubbles, providing an extraordinary opportunity to taste and learn about the world of Champagne and sparkling wine! 

*Assistance for copy and images provided by Samantha Slaven Publicity/EffervescenceLA*