Masterclass Seminar: The Sparkling Showdown - Authentic Champagne Meets Virginia’s Finest by Champagne Master Lieven DeGeyndt.  Saturday VIP/Early Grand Tasting Included.

Explore, Compare and Contrast Elite Champagne Made by Small Producers in Champagne, France with Premier Virginia Sparkling Wine Made by Virginia's Small Producers

Masterclass Details

In this enlightening Masterclass session, you'll compare and contrast the “drink of kings” and Virginia's finest sparkling wine and learn what makes each distinct from the other. Through tastings, Lieven will guide you through a range of champagne and sparkling wine styles, going beyond the "yellow label" to discover small growers, limited productions, and styles (in both France and Virginia) most people never get the chance to try. 

This is more than a tasting, it's a rare chance to learn directly from someone who has spent time in the vineyards of Champagne, studied the history, and is part of the global conversation on champagne and sparkling wines. 

Come explore champagne and Virginia sparkling wine like a true pro, the way insiders (the Champenois) drink it, with curiosity, context, and maybe even a laugh. Seats are limited!  Secure your spot now and experience champagne the way insiders drink it: with context, curiosity, and maybe even a laugh.

With Your Ticket, You Will:

• Taste 10 to 12 champagnes and sparkling wines

• Learn how to distinguish between champagne and Virginia sparkling wine

• You may arrive at 9:15am.   NOTE: this seminar is held in our second location on the first floor, North side of Main Street Station adjacent to the new Shockoe Institute.

About Champagne Master: Lieven DeGeyndt

Lieven DeGeyndt is one of the few voices in the U.S. who combines academic wine study with hands-on experience in Champagne itself. A Belgian native based in Washington, D.C., he is the founder of Sparkle-ist, a wine club dedicated exclusively to champagne and sparkling wine, and a noted educator and consultant for restaurants and private individuals. He's on a mission to show that champagne is not just for New Year's toasts, but for celebrating and enjoying any moment, any day —- and yes, it deserves better than the flute.

His path to the glass is shaped by deep roots: a family connection to farming, first-hand work in the 2024 and 2025 Champagne harvests, and champagne pairing dinner event collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs. He also educates restaurant teams, sommeliers, and conducts private tastings, always with the goal of making champagne feel less intimidating and a lot more fun. As a Champagne Master Level (Wine Scholar Guild), Certified Specialist of Wine, and current WSET Diploma candidate, Lieven offers attendees a rare combination of authority and accessibility, with dirt still under his nails from working alongside the growers and family producers who craft extraordinary bottles you'll never find in stores.

Important Information

• You may arrive at 10:30 am to be checked in and seated
• Only 21 years or older are permitted to enter the event
• Casual attire
• All inclusive