Champagne region tour
“My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough champagne” – John Maynard Keynes
Champagne has always been a constant in my life; just like travel. Whether the times were good or bad, there has always been a place for a glass of bubbly and an adventure or two.
Living in South Africa, it is easy to be spoilt by the almost-as-good stuff, Méthode Cap Classique (MCC). MCC is the name used to describe sparkling wine, made in the traditional French Méthode Champenoise style, but because of the fact that it is not made in the region, cannot be called champagne.
Champagne region
Having developed quite a taste for the lively drink, a tour through the Champagne-Ardenne region in France has always been at the top of the bucket list.
We recently got the chance to undertake a trip to Paris and decided to include a short road trip to the scenic Reims and Épernay, about 1h 30 minutes’ car drive from the capital. Épernay is home to famous Champagne houses like Moët & Chandon, while the historic city of Reims is where you will find other names, like Taittinger and G.H Mumm.
“Visite de caves”
The magic of champagne happens in the heart of the city, as opposed to on the actual vineyards. The houses have their “caves” or cellars situated underground on huge often family-owned properties, which give them a very unique kind of charm. Most of these cellars are within walking distance from the town centre, which means that the short walk is often very entertaining in itself, as you pass historic monuments, quaint restaurants and beautiful old houses. Cellar tours are done at most of the houses, where they take visitors down in the chalk quarries and show them how the champagne is aged, as well as giving a bit of history behind champagne and each house’s unique brand.
Roaming the countryside
Most of the champagne houses source their grapes from various chosen vineyards to make their unique blends. These vineyards are situated in the region just outside the towns. We went exploring and came across the most beautiful landscapes and scenery, as well as discovering other smaller houses situated on or close to the vineyards.
Tips for travellers
Dress appropriately. Champagne is aged in underground caves so most of the tours take visitors underground to natural chalk/limestone quarries that were dug out during Roman times. Keep this in mind when dressing for your tours as the natural temperature (ideal for storing champagne) is always about 12 degrees Celsius.
Do your research. Make a list of big houses you would like to see and get a map that lists smaller houses too and plan your day around 3 or 4 visits, while remembering to include coffee and food stops along the way. It is worth it to note that the region has about 11 Michelin Star restaurants, so work one of those into your itinerary if you are a foodie.
Consider a tour through the countryside. The caves and towns are truly impressive and a unique experience, however, if you want something a little less commercial and much cheaper, opt to do only a few big houses before heading out into the countryside, where the tastings are free (mostly) and the people are more welcoming to visitors who like to take their time and get to know the locals.
Have a bottle of water nearby at all times. Drink it in between your tastings. Thank us later.
