Champagne Region Tours
Champagne:
Champagne & Vineyards
The Champagne wine region is a historic province in the northeast of France. The area is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name. EU law and the laws of most countries reserve the term "Champagne" exclusively for wines that come from this region located about 100 miles (160 km) east of Paris. The viticultural boundaries of Champagne are legally defined and split into five wine producing districts within the administrative province-the Aube, Cote des Blancs, Cote de Sezanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallee de la Marne. The towns of Reims and Epernay are the commercial centers of the area.
Located at the northern edges of the wine growing world, the history of the Champagne wine region has had a significant role in the development of this unique terroir. The area's close proximity to Paris promoted the regions economic success in its wine trade but also put the villages and vineyards in the path of marching armies on their way to the French capital. Despite the frequency of these military conflict, the regions developed a reputation for quality wine production in the early Middle Ages and was able to continue that reputation as the region's producers began making sparkling wine with the advent of the great Champagne houses in the 17th and 18th century. The principal grapes grown in the region include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted grape in the Aube region and grows very well in Montagne de Reims. Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape in the Vallee de la Marne region. The Cote des Blancs is dedicated almost exclusively to Chardonnay
Champagne Notes
Day Tours
Pinot noir gives the wine red fruits aromas and brings body and power to the cuvee blending.
Pinot Meunier is supple and fruity. It has an intense bouquet and gives roundness to the wine.
Chardonnay is the variety of finesse. It gives floral marks. It develops quite slowly which makes a good balance for wine maturation when blended.
From dry to sweet, Champagnes are labeled Brut Absolute, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec (Dry), Demi-Sec and Doux (Sweet). Blanc de Blancs bottling are made entirely from Chardonnay grapes and tend to be lighter and more delicate in style. Blanc de Noirs are made from red grapes and tend to be fuller bodied and richer tasting; Rose Champagnes are dark pink in color and frequently intensely flavored.
Champagne is a great day trip for groups. It takes 2 1/4 hours each way and once there we can arrange private lunches, champagne games and tastings and special visits to the lighthouse in Verzenay or a whisky tasting made right in Champagne.
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Overnight Champagne Tours
We offer half and full day private tours with English speaking local guides.
We custom create trips for a full range of budgets from 2 star to luxury 4 star and plan and arrange routes and itineraries according to your needs and the type of experience you are looking to have.
Whether you want to spend a few days in Reims and enjoy all the city has to offer from its UNESCO cathederal, food and chocolate stores, gourmet restaurants, or brasseries to quite overnight stay in a hotel inside a vineyard we can create the ideal stay for you.
For serious wine lovers with time we can plan additional days in the Alsace wine region, Burgundy and the Loire Valley.
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Discovery Tours
We present the process, legends, traditions and culture that has created the magic of Champagne. We visit both large and small producers and arrange tastings which show you the difference between either regions, specific producers or grape varieties.
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Highlights:
- Discovery of a Champagne vineyard
- Guided visit of prestige champagne house and its underground chalk cellar (Taittinger, Veuve Cliquot, Ruinart, Moet et Chandon, Billecart Salmon, and others) to
- Visits of small and mid size producers.
- Traditional French lunches from regional to Gastronomique
- Helicopter Tour around Reims
- On your own visit the Basilica Saint Remy, the Foujita chapel, Art Deco walking tour.
Additional Options for families with kids:
- Tour of Biscuit Fossiers (the oldest biscuits company in France) ,
- Horse and Carriage Ride in the vineyards
- Visit to le Pre en Bulles interactive museum of Champagne
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Luxury Tours
A luxury tour starting in Reims or Paris to luxuriate in the Champagne culture of food, wine and relaxation. Stay at Les Crayeres, Royal Champagne or Chateaux d'Etoges.
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Highlights:
- Special guided tour of Veuve Cliquot with champagne and food tasting with their in house sommelier.
- Private guided tour of the cellars of Dom Perignon
- Lunch at Michelin star restaurants or wine and food pairing lunches.
- Visit to Hautvillers where champagne was born, and the church where Dom Pérignon is buried, before going to a little nearby winegrower for a tasting.
- Overnight and Dinner at Le Royal Champagne or Les Crayeres or Chateaux d'Etoges
- Visit to prestige house like Philiponnat where you will taste organic champagne, and their exceptional "Clos des Goisses" cuvée.
- Ballooning over the vineyards at sunset.
- Tour of the gothic style Cathederal in Reims where most of the French kings were crowned.
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Specialist Tours
These itineraries are generally for serious amateurs, restaurateurs, cooks and wine shops. We focus on methods of production, vineyard visits, multiple tastings, purchase advice & specialty visits like Philiponnat and their exceptional "Clos des Goisses.
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Highlights:
- Discovery of a Champagne vineyard and explanation of terroir, the three main grape varieties in Champagne, production methods, step by step technical wine making process "from grape to champagne" through pressing, first fermentation, blending, bottling, second fermentation, remuage, disgorgement, corking and finally labeling.
- Visits and tastings in small and family champagne producers in each of the 3 champagne regions the Montagne de Reims, the Vallee de la Marne and the Cote des Blanc.
- Lunch in regional restaurants or vineyard picnics.
- 6 wine tastings at a local cellar with a huge variety of Champagnes
- Visit to Nicolas Feuillatte the largest cooperative house in Champange to see a modern production facility.
- 2hr private initiation and tasting class at a local wine school.
- Overnight in a hotel / Champagne producer.
- Visit to a private wine museum Le Mesnil sur Oger + tasting of 3-4 champagnes.
- Visit Ch. Maillart - a modern producer with modern press and concrete cellars but using oak barrels and making a very good champagne. Tasting of 2 champagnes : brut and rosé while sitting in the red armchairs of a modern tasting room.
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2 Full Day Semi Private Tours
Reims, Epernay & Cotes de Blancs
A perfect solution for single travelers and couples looking for a complete immersion into the heritage of Champagne.
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Available: April to October Daily except Sunday
Duration: 8hrs
Cost : Single from 450 €pp Double from 390 €pp
Includes :
*Transportation in a comfortable full option minivan
*English speaking escort guide
*entrance fees and tastings at Moët, Mumm and at 2 family Champagne estates
*Avenue des Champagne tour
*Stop at the Abbey of Dom Perignon in Hautvillers
*Champagne tasting lunch with drinks included both days
*Tour of Reims Cathedral, sightseeing of Reims Grandes Maisons de Champagne,.
*Overnight in a 2 star hotel with Breakfast.
*8 passengers maximum per vehicle.
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Day 1 Itinerary : Arrive Reims Central TGV station at 8:42 for 9am pcik up. You being the day with a sightseeing tour of Reims, city of coronation, and of Champagne. You will see pass several famous Grandes Maisons de Champagne: Veuve Cliquot, Taittinger, Pommery before stopping for a guided tour and tasting at world famous Grande Maison de Champagne Mumm. The Mumm Maison de Champagne was founded in 1827, however the Mumm dynasty dates back to the 12th century. They were German and in the 18th century they were already wine producers and merchants. Recognising the quality and the potential of the sparkling wines produced in the nearby Champagne region, in 1927 they decided to establish a branch of their wine company there. “Only the Best” being their motto, they soon seduced illustrious European royal families. The creation of the “Cordon Rouge” definitely established their fame: they became the official supplier of the British Royalty.
During your Champagne tasting lunch you will be introduced you to local specialties, paired with three types of Champagne (Blanc de blancs, Blanc de noirs and Rosé) of the main terroirs of the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blanc regions.
After lunch you will have a guided tour of the Cathedral of Reims. Listed in the Unesco World Heritage, 13th century Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is one of Europe's most important Gothic structures. Let you be captivated by the unique stained glasses and the exceptionally rich statuary – over 2 300 statues among which the famous Smiling Angel. It is here that King Clovis was baptized around year 498 giving birth to the Kingdom of the Franks and starting a long lasting tradition: except two, all of the Kings of France would be crowned here!
We end the day in Montagne de Reims vineyards and a tasting at a family estate near Reims.
Return to Reims at 5:30PM
Day 2 Itinerary : You will start your day driving along Scenic Route du Champagnes through the vineyards and picturesque Grand Cru villages like Ay, Hautvillers, Bouzy, Le Mesnil, Vernezay toward the Côte des Blancs passing some of the most famous Grandes Maisons de Champagne such as: Bollinger, Gosset, Deutzand
Guided tour and tasting at world famous Grande Maison de Champagne Moët & Chandon.
Then troll along the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay located in the heart of town, Epernay internationally known as the "Capital of Champagne". Epernay’s stunning main street appears like an exhibition of opulent mansions housing the most illustrious Maisons de Champagne: Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet, Mercier, etc. Not to mention the 100km of tunnels under the pavement!
During your Champagne tasting lunch you will be introduced you to local specialties, paired with three types of Champagne (Blanc de blancs, Blanc de noirs and Rosé) of the main terroirs of the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blanc regions.
After lunch, we take you to the Marne Valley on a journey through the vineyards to meet with another prestigious figure: Dom Pérignon who finalized the process to elaborate Champagne and is now buried in the church of the former Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers.
On the way back to Epernay you will enjoy the discovery of another face of Champagne: tour and Champagne tasting at a family estate. Among the Grandes Maisons de Champagne, more than 1 000 family wine makers contribute to the prestige of Champagne.
Return: 5:00PM Reims Champagne-Ardenne TGV train station.
*Wineries and family estates may change according to their availability.
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