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16.03.11
Brisbane Queen of Champagne, Bernadette O'Shea, Toast's International Award Win
Australia’s leading champagne connoisseur, Bernadette O’Shea, has been named the world’s foremost champagne writer at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Ms O’Shea was awarded the accolade last week when she won “The Best in the World” in the French Wine category at a prestigious award ceremony in Paris.
Judges commended Ms O’Shea for her first book, Champagne & Chandeliers: Grand Dining Celebrations a coffee table book detailing extravagant and memorable dining occasions throughout history from the worlds of politics, fashion, royalty and the arts.
Brisbane’s Ms O’Shea said she was ecstatic to hear the news of her win. “This is a salute to Australia and a great accolade for Champagne!” Ms O’Shea said. “I have just popped a cork and will have a glass to celebrate.”
Bernadette was one of just two Australian wine experts nominated. She competed with experts from over 56 different countries in the wine category.
Champagne & Chandeliers contains thirty-five stories of history-making moments in the world’s collective champagne experience. In her trademark exuberant style, Ms O’Shea revisits each event’s dinner of celebration in detail, matching the menus to classic champagne vintages from throughout the ages.
Champagne and Chandeliers: Grand Dining Celebrations is available to purchase online at www.champagneconsultant.com for $120.00 AUD and can also be found in selected book stores.
About Bernadette O’Shea
A full-time champagne consultant and educator, Bernadette O’Shea’s list of accolades is both impressive and inspiring. In 1984 she became the first non-professional woman to win the coveted Vin de Champagne Award, an award she currently co-judges.
From her base in Brisbane, Ms O’Shea enjoys a huge personal following of former and perennial students and travels professionally both in Australia and Champagne, France. She holds a French knighthood, Chevalier de l’ordre du Merite Agricole, for her contribution to the champagne industry as well as other French awards.
Added to these many achievements are personal commendations from champagne royalty Christian Pol-Roger and Frédéric Heidsieck:
“She speaks of champagne with such poetry and sensitivity that when you listen to her you hear the bubbles,” Mr Heidsieck said.
Christian Pol-Roger has praised Ms O’Shea’s, “outstanding knowledge of champagne as well as her natural talent for communicating.”
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