NOVEL THINKING

Those owner-operated set-ups—known as grower champagnes—will likely be too busy to welcome visitors.

Even better, a new five-star hotel and spa, Royal Champagne, opened this spring north of the town and is owned by Franco-American couple Denise Dupré and Mark Nunnelly, who also own biodynamic Champagne house Leclerc Briant.

If you choose to stay in Epernay, check out Au Moulin Champenois as a budget-friendly hotel option. With the smaller producers, the entire process takes place onsite, so you can see the journey from grape to bottle. And, if you book ahead you can book a champagne and chocolate pairing! Don’t expect anything luxurious, but it’s a comfortable option. This article about visiting the Champagne region contains affiliate links. Champagne arouses the senses: the eyes feast on vines parading up hillsides and vertical processions of tiny, sparkling bubbles; the nose breathes in damp soil and the heavenly bouquet of fermentation; the ears rejoice at the clink of glasses and the barely audible fizz; and the palate tingles with every sip. Two days is plenty for a first visit, according to Caroline Brun, one of the area's foremost guides. All champagne houses offer their tours by appointment, so booking ahead is your best option. It really is a beautiful part of France! This winemaking region surrounds Paris on the northeast side, with the cities of Reims and Epernay often used as visitors' home bases (heavy-hitter producers like the aforementioned Veuve and Mumm are there, too). Unlike Napa, or even Bordeaux, where tasting rooms are usually ready to welcome walk-ins, even the larger houses in Champagne operate by appointment. Larger brands, by contrast, tend to welcome visitors solely to their cellars, where the bottles are stored.

Maison de l’Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière, First-time France: where to go and what to do.

“Remember that it’s really important to have a hearty breakfast, since you may well have your first tasting at 10 a.m. [before drinking all day], and you may not be used to that,” says Jenna Jones, from wine tour specialist Grape Escapes.

I spend most of my time living and working abroad and use this website to share "the good, the bad and the ugly" of traveling and living abroad. Whether you are a huge champagne fan or are just looking for an interesting part of France to visit, I would say visiting Champagne is well worth it! Tip: the champagne tours take you through the cellars, which are quite cool. Pinot meunier is usually blended with other grapes; for example, it’s used with pinot noir to make delicious blanc des noirs. Plus, they are quite unique in producing organic champagne!

Épernay’s handsome av de Champagne fizzes with maisons de champagne (Champagne houses).

The town also makes an excellent base for exploring the Champagne Routes. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. This museum is so outstanding that it’s worth planning your day around a two-hour tour. It’s not the prettiest French city but it’s a convenient base and offers the most facilities. Larger brands, by contrast, tend to welcome visitors solely to their cellars, where the bottles are stored. The head sommelier of its restaurant, Alberto Segade—a veteran of London’s Claridge's —is especially knowledgeable. It doesn’t have as many facilities as Reims, but it’s a great place to stay if you want to soak up that typical small-town French vibe for a few days. That’s something to keep in mind if you want to visit smaller champagne houses. Reims is the largest city in the region and Epernay is the town with the famous ‘Champagne Avenue’ (Avenue de Champagne). One major advantage to visiting smaller produces like these: The entire process takes place onsite, so you can see the journey from grape to bottle. In 1950 one such cellar – owned by the irrepressible Mercier family – hosted a car rally without the loss of a single bottle! This zone makes the fullest bodied Champagnes, often intended to age. ☞ READ MORE: Easy Guide to the French Wines Visiting Champagne France: It’s more than one town The region is made up of 5 areas which all grow grapes and produce bubbly. Ad Choices, The Beginner's Guide to Visiting Champagne. Taxis are surprisingly expensive so I would advise against that unless money is no issue. Bring sneakers or flat shoes: Many of the roads are cobbled, the cellars are uneven, and you’ll likely be picking your way through the vines. Beneath the streets in 110km of subterranean cellars, more than 200 million bottles of Champagne, just waiting to be popped open on some sparkling occasion, are being aged. Tip: it’s worth checking out Airbnb for accommodation as well, especially if you are on a budget or want more space than a hotel room. © 2020 Lonely Planet. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. Public transportation is patchy, and taxi prices are exorbitant: Call for a pick-up from a vineyard beyond city limits, and you’ll pay not only for your journey, but for however long it takes for the taxi to arrive, too. If you want to explore those less accessible champagne houses, it’s best to book a tour that includes transport. First things first: The term "Champagne" isn't a catch-all for anything sparkling in a glass. What if you want to go further than the local wine store, and visit the land that gave the world the ultimate mood-lifter in a glass? Lastly, L’Ecrin des Vignes is worth mentioning, which is a gorgeous 18th-century B&B in an idyllic setting. Only sparkling wines that are from the region of Champagne are allowed to be called “Champagne AOC”.

The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. The … Stay there, too, if you’re curious to see the Côte des Blancs, which focuses solely on chardonnay-based bubbly. Love good bubbly? If you choose to stay in Reims, Hotel Cecyl is a good budget hotel option with a very central location. There's a lot packed into this country – artistic and architectural masterpieces,…. I have been lucky once or twice, walking into a champagne house and being able to join a tour immediately, but generally that doesn’t happen. The first three regions will hold the greatest interest for most travelers. Here's how to visit its place of origin in northeastern France. Among grower champagnes, try Eric Rodez in Ambonnay, which makes an unusual blanc de blancs from chardonnay grown there, or the Côte des Blancs–based Henry de Vaugency, where the English-speaking owner Pascal conducts tours personally (his Grand Cru quality wines start at less than €20 per bottle, too).

Half-timbered houses – some with lurching walls and floors that aren’t quite level – line many streets in the old city, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1524. Any information published by Condé Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world. This also gives you enough time to explore Reims or Epernay, soak up the French atmosphere, and enjoy the food. You can visit all three in a single day, albeit with a little planning, but if you’d rather spend less time commuting and dive deep into a single region, Jones recommends focusing on the Montagne de Reims. © 2020 Condé Nast. If you are looking to avoid the crowds, November can also be a good month to visit the champagne region. There’s a fistful of Michelin-starred restaurants in the city—and though delicious, they tend to be overpriced. Of special interest are (from southwest to northeast) rue de Vauluisant, rue de la Trinité, rue Champeaux and rue Paillot de Montabert. Have lunch in Hautvillers – Things to do in Champagne, France. Most household name champagnes lean heavily on pinot noir, she says, so visitors’ palates tend to be accustomed to this style. A few of my recommendations: … I would say you need two full days to experience the highlights of the Champagne region. A visit to the Champagne region of France is quite different compared to visiting any other wine region across the globe. The two most obvious places to stay when visiting Champagne are Reims and Epernay. “Don’t worry," she says with a laugh. Hotel Dans Les Vignes is a good option, surrounded by vineyards and located right next to one of my favorite champagne houses, Bonnet-Ponson. This is also used in blends or to make the light, aperitif-style blanc de blancs Champagne. 2) Visit Champagne distilleries.

Among the highlights is a massive 16-tonne oak-beam grape press from 1630. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Your California Privacy Rights. The impressive Mémorial Charles de Gaulle presents graphic, easily digestible exhibits, rich in photos, which form an admiring biography of France’s greatest modern statesman. They offer a great tour showing you not only their cellars and vineyard but also all of the machinery they use.

Mumm (Reims) Guided Small Group Full Day Trips With LinkParis.com, you can make a full day of touring focusing on either Epernay or Reims, with a city tour, cellar visit, vineyard visit, gourmet …

Or, if you really want to splurge, check out Domaine les Crayeres, a luxury 5-star mansion on the edge of the city. The big attraction in Champagne is of course the world-famous houses of champagne. “The harvest is over, but you can still find some grapes remaining in the vineyards," she says.

Condé Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The Champagne wine region is a wine region within the historical province of Champagne, located in the northeast of France. Champagne has five main regions, or zones. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. A half-day champagne tour, visiting 2 small producers. Mercier takes you on a train through their cellars, which is a fun experience! It was once the local base for the Knights of Malta, hence the name. This makes combining a visit to the Champagne region with a few days in Paris a perfect option!

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