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VINE & BUBBLE : WHO WE ARE

Picture: Vine & Bubble Issue No. 4

VINE & BUBBLE

The Real Story of Champagne

VINE & BUBBLE is a boutique and independent information source dedicated to telling the real story of champagne, launched in November 2018 by Editor & Founder, Sara Underdown.


Sara is an Australian-based educator, presenter and wine writer specialising in Champagne. She is WSET Level 3 qualified and is one of Australia’s recognised voices for champagne through the prestigious Vin de Champagne Awards, the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards and the Born Digital Wine Awards. In addition to writing for her own publication, she writes regularly for numerous drinks publications, magazines and newspapers. Sara is also the official Star Wine List Ambassador for the Champagne region.


In 2023, Sara created the VINE & BUBBLE Podcast. It’s all about the people, the region, the history and - of course - the wine. She travels to Champagne regularly, talking with the Cellar Masters, industry representatives and everyone in between to connect wine lovers with the story behind the finest bubbles of all. You can listen anytime on Apple Podcast or Spotify.


VINE & BUBBLE brings together a network of Australian wine journalists, sommeliers, educators and industry representatives as regular contributors. They are knowledgeable and extremely passionate about the subject of our passion – champagne. As a team of champagne lovers and communicators, we are thrilled to share our united passion with wine-loving audiences.


Contact us anytime at sara@vineandbubble.com

Sara Underdown, Editor of Vine and Bubble Magazine, Australia's only champagne magazine

Sara Underdown

Editor & Publisher

About Our Contributors

Knowledgeable & Passionate

Annette Lacey MW is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Annette Lacey MW

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Annette Lacey MW

Solotel Group, Sydney

Annette is Group Beverage Manager for Solotel and oversees a large and diverse range of hospitality venues in Sydney, which includes Matt Moran’s multi award-winning restaurants.


She completed the rigorous Master of Wine program in 2020 and is a certified WSET educator focusing on developing the next generation of wine professionals.


She was also selected for the highly prized Len Evans tutorial and was winner of the prestigious 2014 Vin de Champagne Award (professional category).


Annette has been an associate wine judge at numerous wine shows around Australia and participates in trade and educational tastings, presentations and masterclasses.

Shanteh Wale

Head Sommelier, Quay

Shanteh is the Head Sommelier at Sydney’s award-winning, Quay restaurant. She is a rising star in the ranks of sommeliers in Australia, having been nominated three times for the Good Food Guide Sommelier of the Year award. She has also been a Len Evans Scholar and judges annually at state, city and regional wine shows.


Shanteh has contributed to numerous beverage publications and is the host of OverAGlass, a drinks podcast with the Deep in the Weeds network.

Shanteh Wale is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Shanteh Wale

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Marcell Kustos is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Marcell Kustos

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Marcell Kustos

Fine Wine Consultant, Australia

Marcell is a leading fine wine and hospitality consultant in Adelaide. With his cross-functional background, re-defines the role of modern-day sommeliers.


After obtaining a qualification in food engineering and winemaking operations, Marcell started his career as a food product developer before turning his hand to wine. After working as a sommelier while undertaking a Master's degree in gastronomy, he went on to complete a PhD in food, wine and emotional pairing at the University of Adelaide in collaboration with Wine Australia and UC Davis.


At Magill Estate, Marcell curates one of the country's most extensive champagne lists and creates memorable experiences with a twist of science. He is the recipient of the ASVO AWAC Scholarship, Wine Communicators Australia Wine Industry Mentor Program, Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador Scholarship, Sommeliers Australia Education Scholarship, Wine Australia Research Scholarship and a finalist for the Sommelier of the Year by Gault & Millau.


And if that wasn’t enough, he co-founded a wine label @drink_ludo to make brave wines with transparency, curiosity and precision.

Matthew Lamb

Sommelier and Wine Director

Matthew Lamb is an avid champagne lover, with his work as a Sommelier and Wine Director allowing him to showcase his passion for the region and its producers. During his time as Head Sommelier at Vue de Monde in Melbourne, Matthew was awarded 'Best Sparkling & Champagne List - Australasia' by World of Fine Wine. He was also a finalist in the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge and Gault & Milau's Sommelier of the Year.
 
Currently, Matthew is living and working in Singapore where he is the Group Beverage Manager for The Lo & Behold Group.

Matthew Lamb is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Matthew Lamb

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Yuri Shima is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Yuri Shima

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Yuri Shima

Wine Writer & Educator, USA

Yuri is a champagne expert based in the San Francisco Bay area, originally from Japan. During her professional career, she lived in France and has been deeply in love with its wines, people, food and culture. She writes and lectures on all kinds of wine, but specialises in champagne.


Yuri’s passion is to travel to Champagne, learn from producers and vignerons about their wines, their stories, and share them with audiences.


She holds a Level 4 Diploma from the WSET, is a Dame Chevalier of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, a Wine Expert certified by the Japan Sommelier Association, and an attorney admitted by the New York State since 2006.

Kara Maisano

Masani Italian Dining and Terrace

Kara Maisano is Sommelier and Wine Director at Masani Italian Dining and Terrace in Melbourne, renowned for its award-winning wine list. She is a graduate of the WSET Diploma and Court of Master Sommeliers, and an Italian Wine Ambassador. In addition to her occasional role as associate judge at local and international wine shows, Kara inspires other budding professionals as an WSET educator.
 
Her knowledge and enthusiasm for fine wines has been recognised widely within the industry. In 2018, Kara was awarded Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Young Sommelier of the Year and she became a finalist in the Gault & Millau Sommelier of the Year Awards and the Vin de Champagne Awards.

Kara Maisano is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Kara Maisano

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Christina Kaigg is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Christina Kaigg

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Christina Kaigg

Wine Writer, Buyer and Educator

Christina is the Assistant Wine Buyer for Atlas Vinifera Wine Bar and Bottle Shop and the Victorian Brand Ambassador in the national chain for Burch Family Wines, which also represents Franck Bonville champagnes.


She is WSET L3 qualified, a certified educator of the French Wine Scholar’s Program at Winehouse in Southbank, Melbourne, and an occasional writer for Gourmet Traveller WINE.

Leanne Altmann

Beverage Director for Trader House Restaurants

Leanne Altmann is one of Australia’s leading Sommeliers and wine communicators.
 
A 2009 Len Evans scholar and perpetual student of wine, Leanne holds the WSET Diploma, where she was the top Australian graduate, and the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Certificate, dux. She has continued her practical wine and service education as the recipient of the Negociants Australia Working with Wine Fellowship, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, and the 2018 Vin de Champagne Award. In 2019, Leanne was named Gourmet Traveller Magazine's Sommelier of the Year.
 
As a passionate wine educator, Leanne is a Certified Educator with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. She is a contributor to The Saturday Paper, and an occasional wine judge.
 
After joining Cutler & Co. in 2009, Leanne was part of the Supernormal opening team, and has been in her current role of Beverage Director for Trader House Restaurants since 2017.

Leanne Altmann is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Leanne Altmann

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Gert Crum is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Gert Crum

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Gert Crum

Award-Winning Writer & Author

Gert Crum is an extraordinary author, speaker and teacher of wine, best known for his outstanding authorship of the meticulously researched tome ‘Champagne – The Future Uncorked’ and the insightful ‘Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’. Both have been recognised with international prizes.
 
Michael Edwards (Great-Britain) praised Gert’s book on Champagne as ‘A new classic for our age; beauty and distilled wisdom’ and Kerry Gillett (Australia) wrote ‘This book is aesthetically beautiful and, knowledge-wise, amazing’.

Ned Goodwin MW

Writer, Presenter, Wine Judge

Ned Goodwin is unlike any other. Born in London, raised in Australia and educated in Tokyo and Paris, Ned splits his time between Tokyo – where he resided for 14 years – and his beloved Sydney. Ned is a dux of the Len Evans Tutorial, Japan’s first Master of Wine, educator, consultant, judge, critic and a highly regarded motivational speaker and presenter on the topic of his passion.


He has served as Wine Director – educator and buyer – for one of Asia’s largest restaurant groups, Global Dining Japan, and has been appointed to the ‘Wine Committee’ at Italy’s most illustrious estate, Biondi-Santi.


Ned also co-writes the Halliday Guide as a chief critic and has served as Bettane et Desseauve’s critical voice across Antipodean wines for the Chinese market. As host to wine dinners for winemakers, châteaux owners, Hollywood stars and corporate organisations, Ned has a unique ability to hold an audience’s attention like no other.

Ned Goodwin writes for Vine and Bubble Magazine

Ned Goodwin MW

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Bhatia Dheeraj is a Vine and Bubble Contributor

Bhatia Dheeraj

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Bhatia Dheeraj

Beverage Director & Award-Winning Sommelier

Bhatia is one of Australia’s leading sommeliers. As Head Sommelier for Penfolds Magill Estate restaurant in Adelaide, he raised an impressive list of champagne with special focus on grower-producers. And at Est., in Sydney’s CBD, he led an award-winning program of wine for Merivale, curating more than 1,500 wines from Australia and around the world.


Bhatia’s Australian story comes after many years leading wine teams across fine dining restaurants internationally, including: The Peninsula in Hong Kong; Robuchon au Dôme in Macau; The Roadhouse in Cape Town; Raffles in Singapore; and Burj Al Arab in Dubai.


In 2011, Bhatia was named Best Sommelier at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore and, in 2017, he won the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge. Two years ago, he was recognised with one of Australia’s most coveted wine awards - the Judy Hurst Award - as the Sommelier responsible for the best wine list at Est. in Sydney.


In recent times, Bhatia has consulted wine bars in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide working with renowned restaurateurs. He is currently Beverage Director for Arkhé in Adelaide.

Caroline Henry

Journalist

Caroline Henry is a journalist, writer and educator specialising in terroir-driven champagne. In 2017 she self-published her first book, Terroir Champagne: The Luxury of Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic Cuvées. Since 2012, she has been the Champagne correspondent for Wine-Searcher and occasionally writes for Decanter, among other publications.

In 2018, her work received recognition by the Champenois winegrowers, when she was the first woman to receive the coveted Terres et Vins de Champagne prize.

Caroline Henry is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Caroline Henry

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Kate Laurie is a Vine and Bubble contributor

Kate Laurie

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Kate Laurie

Wine Maker, Deviation Road

Many would know Kate Laurie as the multi-award-winning sparkling winemaker and co-owner of Adelaide Hills winery, Deviation Road Winery. Most, however, would be unaware of her extensive background living and studying in Champagne. In 1997, Kate completed an Advanced Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology at Lycée Viticole d’Avize. Her studies and work experience included writing a thesis in French and gaining experience at Champagne Doyard Mahé (Vertus), Domaine Oury-Schreiber (Vitry) and Champagne Sanger (Avize).

In Australia, Kate is celebrated for her premium méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines.

Amanda Reboul

Tasting the Stars

An independent champagne presenter and consultant, Amanda Reboul’s passion is to bring champagne to life through the power of education. Since returning to Australia after many years living in France, Amanda has become known for her bespoke events, masterclasses, lunches and dinners, as well as speaking engagements with corporate and public audiences.

In 2014, she was a finalist in the professional category of the Vin de Champagne Awards and has since coordinated annual tours to the Champagne region, introducing Australians to its history and the diversity of champagne wines. In 2016, Amanda founded ‘Effervescence’ a highly acclaimed and unique festival in Queensland dedicated exclusively to champagne.

Amanda Reboul is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Amanda Reboul

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Karen Palmer is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Kaaren Palmer

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Kaaren Palmer

Award-Winning Author

Kaaren Palmer is an award-winning author and educator on the subject of her passion – champagne. After many years working in the corporate world, Kaaren turned her focus to explore the science and art of champagne, living in and visiting the region for extended periods of time.

In 2016 Kaaren published the acclaimed Champagne – A Tasting Journey and won the Gourmand International Food and Wine Book Award for Best French Wine Book 2016. She is a Dame Chevalier of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne and contributes to numerous food and wine publications.

Cam O'Keefe

Centra Hotel

Cam O’Keefe is a young sommelier and owner of Centra Hotel in Geelong. He is a lover of all styles of champagne and has a particular interest in wine growers.

Cam is part of a new generation of champagne enthusiasts and aficionados; a lover of the black varietals (any way they come) and terroir-driven cuvées.

Winner of the coveted Vin de Champagne Award (professional category) in 2016 and named Australian Young Restaurateur 2018, Cam travels annually to the region and spends time amongst the vines and in the cellar with the region’s leading growers and producers.

Cam O'Keefe is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Cam O'Keefe

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Yoko Ota-Sawyer is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Yoko Ota-Sawyer

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Yoko Ota-Sawyer

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Some may know Yoko Ota-Sawyer as the tirelessly dedicated illustrator of all things champagne under the auspices of @yokobubble on Instagram. Others may know her for her educated palate and unwavering passion for Champagne’s finest growers.

Paris educated, Boston based, Yoko, has more than 10 years’ experience in the wine industry working across retail sales in the United States, wine judging in the United Kingdom, Japan and France, as well as working numerous harvests and other cellar jobs in Champagne and Mosel.

Anja Lewis

Canny Grapes

Anja Lewis is a Perth-based wine enthusiast, educator and consultant through her company, Canny Grapes.

With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Anja swapped corporate life for a life in wine, hosting masterclasses, tastings, functions and presentations all in the name of her vinous passion. Her appetite is particularly whetted for champagne which saw her become a finalist in the 2016 Vin de Champagne Awards.

Tirelessly studious, Anja possesses an Advanced Certificate from the WSET and is pursuing her Diploma along the way to becoming a Master of Wine.

Anja Lewis is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Anja Lewis

Vine & Bubble Contributor
Megan Barber is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Megan Barber

Vine & Bubble Contributor

Megan Barber

Noble Spirits

Megan Barber is as passionate about champagne as an industry as she is about the wine. Beginning her professional career as a Brand Development Manager in Sydney for one of Champagne’s oldest Grandes Marques, her enthusiasm for the wine inspired a year in France where she was mentored by one of Champagne’s youngest and most dynamic producers.

At the end of 2018, Megan returned to Australia to assume a role as Brand Development Manager with Noble Spirits in New South Wales.

Linaa Berry

Celebrity Sommelier

Liinaa Berry is one of Adelaide’s star sommeliers. She started her career at resorts in Mauritius and the Seychelles in 2013 and, in 2015, moved to Australia where she was responsible for curating the Crafers Hotel cellar in South Australia, which went on to win the Best Pub List in the country.


Liinaa later joined 2KW Bar, offering hard-to-find producers, a great representation of old-world classics, and a selection of progressive wines.


She has been a host of SBS’s Battle of the Vines, sat on numerous tasting panels and hosted tasting events all in the name of her passion.


Liinaa later assumed the position as Head Sommelier at one of Adelaide’s premier establishments – Leigh Street Wine Bar – and is now an independent consultant to bars and restaurants.

Linaa Berry is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

Linaa Berry

Vine & Bubble Contributor
David Donald is a Vine and Bubble magazine contributor

David Donald

Vine & Bubble Contributor

David Donald

Champagne Expert

Grower champagne importer, David Donald, offers the largest range of Special Club champagne in Australia. A Laureate of the prestigious Vin de Champagne Award, David is one of our country’s foremost champagne experts, passionate about engaging producers directly with their customers.


He has worked in the wine trade for 25 years, mostly in fine wine retail but also education, marketing and production. David was a pioneer for online retailing for champagne two decades ago and now owns www.ddchampagnes.com.au, a place where he showcases great but lesser-known artisan producers that he fully believes in.

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