Join Kyla Kirkpatrick, aka The Champagne Dame, from Emperor and Champagne Ayala's talented Export Manager Laurence Alamanos for an evening of fine dining at the recently opened Smith St Bistrot. From the genius behind Melbourne food institutions such as Chancery Lane and Matilda 159 Domain, Smith St Bistrot is Scott Pickett's take on a classic French Bistrot.

Smith St Bistrot feels like something from another time and place. With influence coming from all over Europe, the Bistrot feels like you are stepping back into 1930s Paris, complete with an exposed brick interior, antique mirrors, gothic chandeliers and burgundy banquettes.

Together with Kyla, Laurence will wow the room with her fantastical stories of Champagne and the incredible 160 year history of Champagne Ayala. Ayala stands out for the purity of its style. From a preserved savior-faire, each cuvée expresses the elegance of chardonnay, the iconic grape variety of the House, and the singularity of a place where all is crafted on site from a diversity of crus unique in Champagne. This bespoke work, without any artifices, reveals the essential. Here, the blending is an art, and the purity a signature.

This is a rare opportunity to meet and dine with such an prominent figure from Champagne. This is not an event to be missed. Book quickly!

About Laurence Alamanos
Born and raised in France, Laurence Alamanos has a multicultural background, being from Greek and Brazilian origins from her father and her mother’s side. Thus, combined with a true interest for the wine world, she passed the WSET Level 3 while graduating from a French Business School.

After spending 6 months in Shanghai for her thesis in 2010 on the French Wine distribution on the Chinese market, she joined for 6 months, as an intern the LVMH Group in the Still Wine division as an assistant marketing.

Thus, she spent 3.5 years with Champagne Taittinger, as Duty Free & International Partnerships Manager where she discovered the retail business and the glamour of the Champagne world, implementing the whole FIFA program for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Following this strong experience, she joined Champagne Jacquart as Area Export Manager, developing the business for European countries with a very business-oriented focus. After 2 years, she decided to become an entrepreneur, with 2 partners. This led her to Abu Dhabi where their innovative beverage received a Silver Award at the SIAL.

However, longing for the Champagne World, she joined Champagne Ayala in 2018 as Export Manager, in charge of the whole Export. She found a family-owned House, with great values, producing 1st-class Chardonnays champagnes, pure and elegant.