A fun weekend to enjoy tasting and to appreciate Champagne – the wine and the region; to be welcomed by a top Champagne producer for an exclusive visit of her vineyards and tasting in her cellars, visit a famous Grande Marque, and a specialist grower in the Montagne de Reims

Friday – The weekend will begin on Friday afternoon when we meet in the centre of Epernay and from there we will go to a caviste for introductions and a degustation of four champagnes from different parts of the region to appreciate the role of the different terroirs.

After which we will be treated to a guided tour of the
cellars of a Grande Marque Champagne House in the Avenue de Champagne followed by a tasting.

Epernay is an interesting town, not touristy at all, and you will have a little time before dinner to explore for yourselves. We will dine early in a local restaurant, which prepares original dishes based on traditional Champenoise recipes.

Saturday – After breakfast Sylvie Maizieres will welcome us for a unique insight tour and tasting of her estate.

She own 7 hectares of vines, most of which are located in the Grand village of Bouzy and the Premier Cru village of Trepail, producing a range of Champagnes in their own individual style; a Blanc de Blanc (made solely from Chardonnay), a Brut Reserve, a Rose, a Demi–Sec and even a red wine, Bouzy Rouge, made from the famous Pinot Noir grapes, a wine so respected that it is bought by Moet et Chandon to add to their Dom Perignon Rose!!

The day will begin with an hours visit to the new museographe/scenographe to be educated and entertained by the robot ‘Creabulle’ and a ‘virtual’ Dom Perignon.

Then back to tradition for a personal tour of the cave for an explanation of how Champagne is made.

Lunch will take the form of a tutored tasting, to discover the joy of matching different styles of Champagne with samples of regional food, and of course, to enjoy drinking it!

After lunch we will have a tour of the vineyards to appreciate the unique ‘terroir’ and see why it makes the most revered sparkling wine in the world.

Should you be tempted there will be the opportunity to stock up on your favourites at cellar prices.

At the end of the day we will have a little free time before sharing an informal buffet supper together sur place.

Sunday – After breakfast, we will set off starting with a light-hearted rally driving through the wine villages of the Route de Champagne enjoying a leisurely scenic route on our way to our next visit. We will have a tour and tasting of another small producer who specialises in Champagnes made with a predominance of Pinot Meunier.

We will then enjoy a lunch of traditional steak & frites maison in a local village café before making our fond farewells.