When Queensland wine writer Tyson Stelzer released the first version of his Champagne Guide 2011/12 it caused a major stir in the global wine industry because it was seen as the most comprehensive detailing of bubbly to come out of France’s Champagne region.

Wine industry luminaries were universal in their praise.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Huon Hooke described the guide as “one of the best books on Champagne I have read”, wine critic James Halliday was equally effusive saying the guide was “outstanding, brave, breathtaking and elegant”, while The Asian Correspondent described it as “The best Champagne Guide released in a decade”.

To add weight to the accolades Tyson picked up the award for International Champagne Writer of the year at the prestigious Louis Roederer 2011 International Wine Writers Awards.

What makes the whole thing even more impressive is the fact that Tyson has done everything himself. He has personally sourced every bottle, written every review, taken all the photographers and even published the guide himself, which is an unbelievable achievement.

But not one to rest on his laurels Tyson has just released The Champagne Guide 2012-2013, and it has set the bar even higher. It is double in size to last year’s guide and features more reviews, a detailed background on the Champagne region, house ratings as well as a listing of Australia’s top Sparklings and introduces a Champagne Hall of Fame.

If you want to know anything about champagne, this is the place to find it.

The Champagne Guide 2012/13 is available as an e-book ($34.95), hardback ($49.95) and bundled together ($64.95) from champagneguide.com.au

As an added incentive for you to buy this guide (if that is even needed) $5 from every hardback ordered in December 2011 will be donated to the Australia Wine Trade Africa Famine Response for children suffering in the famine crisis in east Africa.