Five minutes with… Sandia Chang

The champagne expert behind Bubbleshop talks grower-producers, laughter and the importance of a long phone charger cable

Food and Drink 18 Sep 2020

Sandia Chang of Bubbleshop

Sandia Chang of Bubbleshop

Sandia Chang is the sommelier who opened Bubbledogs, the restaurant dedicated to making champagne accessible and fun. Her new project is Bubbleshop, an online shop delivering a carefully curated selection of Sandia’s favourite grower champagnes.

What is it about champagne that inspired you to open Bubbledogs and now Bubbleshop?

The inspiration wasn’t just about champagne. It was specifically grower champagnes that inspired me to open Bubbleshop. I was fascinated by how amazing these champagnes were and what great value but no one was drinking much of it. Everyone gravitated to brand-name champagnes. So I wanted to open a bar dedicated to helping advocate these hard-working small artisanal champagne houses and making champagne accessible and not just reserved for special occasions.

Have you always been a fan of champagne or did you prefer other wines first? 

I see champagne as just wine. I have always been interested in wine in general. Champagne became a focus when I decided to dedicate my life to advocating grower-producers.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given in your career? 

Try to make everyone laugh, that is the best human connection.

Who is your role model and how have they influenced you?

My father. He is the best at making friends and creating relationships with people. His joyfulness and open-minded view of life inspires me. He taught me to work and but also don’t forget to play hard.

If you had to pick, what is your favourite champagne and why?

I can’t. It is something that changes all the time. It depends on the moment. Right now, at 9pm when I have just put my daughter to sleep and I can finally catch up with work, my favourite is George Laval Garennes (and preferably in a magnum and a big glass).

What item, apart from your passport, can you not travel without?

A long three-metre charger lead. You never know where the plug is at a hotel or where you’re staying. It helps me do work on my iPhone comfortably (like in bed or on a sofa) while plugged in.

Where are your favourite places to eat in London?

A.Wong, Black Axe Mangal, The Quality Chop House, Andrew Edmunds and my local Gokyuzu.

What about for a glass of wine, champagne or a cocktail?

Glass of wine would be at Quality Wines. Champagne would most likely be at home. Cocktail, Dukes.

Apart from drink and food, what are your biggest passions?

Art history, opera and ballet

If you could choose anyone from today or history to share a bottle of Champagne with, who would it be?

French chef Fernand Point.

Bubbleshop by Sandia Chang is now open at bubbleshoplondon.com. Bubbleshop will offer nationwide delivery once a week. All orders placed before midnight on Wednesday will be delivered on the following Friday.