The Champagne Academy
Lisa O'doherty
Ireland Dinner Organiser
2017
Lisa O’ Doherty - Chief Sommelier The K Club
Lisa comes from an excellent food and wine background having worked first as a restaurant supervisor in fine dining at the 5 Star Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, while studying for a Bar and Hotel Management Diploma Lisa rekindled her love of all things Oenological and went on to become the Sommelier at the Shelbourne’s then flagship restaurant No. 27 the Green.
Lisa also began to compete in sommelier competitions, first at a national level, winning the Sommelier of the Year 2003 and then on to international level when Lisa represented Ireland at the Trophee Ruinart European Championships in 2004 and again at the European Championships in 2007.
Lisa moved to the prestigious 5 Red Star K Club Hotel Golf & Spa, Kildare Ireland, as Chief Sommelier in 2003, where she remains to this day. Her main responsibility is buying and sourcing fine wine for The K Clubs impressive cellar, arguably one of the best in Ireland, continuing to be responsible for all the purchasing in the wine department, investing for the future, training of beverage staff, making wine recommendations to clients and hosting cellar tours and tastings in the original Barton cellars housed deep beneath the hotel.
Lisa lectured with the Wineboard of Ireland for four years and is involved with the Irish Guild of Sommeliers and is a lecturer on the RAI / Guild of Sommeliers wine course, training young Irish staff to enhance their wine service skills.
Lisa has written a column for the Irish Saturday Independents monthly supplement The Fine Wine and Food Guide. She has also written articles for numerous Irish publications including the Evening Herald, The K Mag, Social & Personal Magazine, The K Club Cookbook and Vodafone business monthly magazine, RTE Guide
In June 2017 Lisa was invited to attend the prestigious Champagne Academy in Rheims, France, spending a week there tasting and visiting all 16 Grande Marque houses. On completion of a final exam Lisa won the Golden Magnum, only the second Irish person to do so in 61 years.
In September 2019, Lisa became the official wine expert for The House of the Oireachtas, The Irish Parliament, adding another client to her expanding client list.
Lisa also organizes escorted tours and buying trips to the great wine regions of the world.
Lisa
More Info
Ireland Dinner Organiser
What is your most memorable Champagne moment?
It may sound a bit naff but the Academy and the time in 2017 not only is my favourite champagne moment but has given me so much since. Not only with friendships with my fellow academicians that has latest nearly 7 years but I do believe they will also be friends for life and though the association my champagne friends in Ireland through the dinners.
How did you start your career in Wine & Champagne?
What is your current role in the industry?
My role has evolved and changed so much over the years. Technically I am a consultant Sommelier, and as you can see form my bio I am still the Chief Somme at the K Club and have been for over 20 years. I also manage a lot of private cellars, something I took on during the tough covid years. I organise and host buying trips for individuals to Bordeaux and Burgundy and am very excited to add the Champagne region to next years agenda. I also write for some publications in Ireland, namely the Irish Times and recently the Christmas Issue of the RTE guide. And for fun I blend the house wine of the K Club and make our own signature Gin onsite… A little thing of everything really and I love it all
3 Interests Outside of The Champagne World
Not much interests outside the wine world, I’m afraid – travel is one, my family is another, I have a beautiful 14 year old daughter
What is your favourite quote?
I have two:
There comes a time in every women’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of wine – Bette Davis
Only the unimaginative can fail to find a reason for drinking Champagne – Oscar Wilde
Why Champagne?
Why not… no seriously, I love the history, the process is fascinating, so difficult and time consuming but so rewarding, the elegance of the bubbles, the incredible ability to partner with food and to be honest if I was only to drink one wine for the rest of my life it would be Champagne.
