A Geneva, Switzerland transplant with roots in San Francisco, California and Bangkok, Thailand, Kay is a banker by day and a wine enthusiast after hours. Kay’s love for wine started during her years in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she spent her weekends discovering the wineries in Northern California one “appellation” at a time…
Her thirst for wine knowledge led her to pursue wine-tasting and oenology courses, and she obtained certificates with merit from the WSET (London-based Wine& Spirit Education Trust), L’Ecole de Changins (Ecole du Vin et Oenologie) in Switzerland and Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. Additionally, she successfully completed the French Wine Scholar Program and the Champagne Master-Level Certificate Program at the Wine Scholar Guild and is recognized by the Guild as a Certified Champagne Specialist.
A finalist in the prestigious Swiss Ruinart Sommelier Challenge in 2017, 2019, 2021-2023, Kay is honored to be part of the Champagne community where excellence shines and sparkles. Inducted into the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne as Dame Chevalier, Kay is committed to promote the variety, versatility, taste and other unique characteristics that make Champagne wines synonymous with success and celebration everywhere. Occasionally, Kay serves on the judging panel of the annual French Independent Winegrowers’ Competition in Paris, France and has served as an Associate Judge for the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London, England.
With a post-graduate diploma in Advanced Studies in Taste and Gastronomy from the Université de Reims, Champagne-Ardenne in France, she aims to integrate multisensory experiences in her tasting events to explore how senses act upon one another stimulating and intensifying the wine appreciation.
Kay channels her passion for all things sparkling wines into “Champagne Circle.” She created “Champagne Circle” as a platform to share her passion for champagne, the champagne-making process and a story that lies behind each bottle. Kay hopes to share with people who have the same appreciation and are curious about the vinous world of sparkling wines.
Over the years, Kay has honed her knowledge about champagne and its bubbly relatives. Having lived in Europe over ten years and being married to a Bordelais with roots in Corsica, she has deepened her knowledge about wines from these regions. Living in Geneva offers Kay easy access to many European wine regions, allowing her to visit vintners from Alentejo to Mosel. On her vinous journey, though, she has found a soft spot in her heart for champagne and its soul-stirring bubbles. Join Kay in discovering the bubbly world of champagne!
And a bit more about Champagne Circle…
Champagne Circle aims to promote knowledge about champagne and sparkling wines and arrange exclusive events featuring private tastings with products ranging from the hard-to-find artisanal champagnes, lovingly handcrafted by small-scale growers, to the renowned and highly coveted names. Some events will bring together wine makers and champagne lovers for educational and interactive sessions on their mutual passion. Champagne Circle will also occasionally feature champagne-pairing dinners, allowing participants to hold more in-depth discussions about the tasting notes over a professionally prepared meal. The celebratory feel that sparkling wines add to any occasion will provide partakers with a relaxing atmosphere to meet kindred spirits. All events will take place at a pre-arranged venue in Geneva or in France voisine. At Champagne Circle, we seek to heighten and refine our sensory pleasures and our enjoyment of a glass of champagne.
Champagne Circle organizes monthly sparkling wine-tasting events. Please check out the event calendar on our website: www.champagnecircle.com, or follow us on our Facebook page.