A tailored trip wine lovers and foodies: immerse yourself in Champagne's enogastronomic (the art of pairing wine with food) culture. You will visit the most iconic, award-winning Champagne Houses, picture-perfect towns and learn about the creation of the magical elixir called champagne in the "sacred triangle of Champagne": Épernay, Reims, and Châlons-en-Champagne. You will savor the exquisite cuisine perfectly paired with Champagne and other exquisite French wines; visit cheese producers; admire Roman, Medieval and Gothic Architecture; get inspired from a cooking lesson, take a river boat trip, and other activities.
The enchanting French region of Champagne is filled with historic towns and UNESCO heritage sites, including several hillsides, Champagne Houses and cellars, and the famous gothic Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral, where all French kings were coronated beginning over 1500 years ago, In addition we will visit Eisenhower's HQ in France where the WWII German surrender was taken, and other cities and towns, each with its own history which will astound you for their architecture, culture, gastronomy, and of course champagne production. The tour starts and ends in Paris, which offers you the opportunity to extend your stay in France should you wish to do so (the Notre Dame Cathedral is reopening!).
During the tour, you will learn the story and essentials of the grape and champagne production, participate in their tastings, and explore the concepts of pairing champagne and wines with appropriate and delicious foods. We hope to refine both your nose for champagne and its many aromas, from roses to apples, mangoes, pears, bread and others, depending on the state of maturation. In addition, you will enhance your ability to discern the varied flavors that these champagne and other wine tasting will familiarize you with, so that you may more fully enjoy them.
Below is a brief description of the tour; a more detailed itinerary and additional information on Champagne and the tour will be provided to participants. The final itinerary may have small changes depending on final arrangements at the sites to be visited. Most days will also include an additional activity such as those mentioned above or relax/free time. There will also be opportunities for shopping in various localities. A few of the Champagne Houses we will be visiting are mentioned below.
Itinerary
Arrival in Paris
You will have a transfer from the airport to a 4-star hotel.
Châlons-en-Champagne / Juvigny
We depart in the morning towards Châlons-en-Champagne where we will have a boat tour to see the highlights of Reims, followed by lunch and afternoon tasting at Laurent-Perrier. Afterwards we'll go to our 4-star Chateau.
Reims
Morning visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage site) followed by a very special tasting experience at G. H. Mumm. From there, we'll have fresh oysters and Champagne at the famous Les Halles du Boulingrin market, an outstanding experience! Alternatives are available for the oyster challenged! In the afternoon we will visit another famous champagne producer.
Épernay
We will visit two very famous Champagne Houses including Moët & Chandon and will have a Masterclass on Champagne. An exquisite lunch with perfect pairing will be served at Perrier-Jouët.
Épernay / Crugny
Today we will visit two small and young producers, including Oudiette x Filles, run by two sisters and the second, a young organic producer that has superb Champagnes.
Reims – Free Day
There is so much to see in Reims in addition to what we will have already seen: from catching up on your shopping, exquisite restaurants where you can try a few additional wines, cafes, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts with impressionist and modern masters; Basilique St-Reims with its gilded reliquary, Ancien Collège des Jesuits, the scene of several films, Fort de la Pompelle and others.
Chavot-Courcourt
In the morning, we will visit Champagne Chavost, an organic producer, where we will be lucky to taste the rare "Coteau Champenoise" red wine and walk around their gorgeous vineyards. The visit will be followed by lunch and another activity.
End of Tour
Sadly, all good things must come to an end! After our delicious breakfast, our bus will take us back to Charles de Gaulle airport and metro station for your onward travel.
Lodging
The tour's meeting point will be a 4-star hotel at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. From there, the tour participants will travel approx. 90 miles northeast from Paris by private bus, where we will be staying in two 4-star hotels in the Champagne region: a beautiful, historic chateau built at the beginning of the 18th century, www.chateaudejuvigny.com in the small village of Juvigny, and in Reims, the center of Champagne activity.
Breakfast is served with your tour guides, Patricia and Martin!
