Champagne tasting in Champagne

Originally the name Champagne was derived from "Campania" which means land of plains. There are also undulating hillsides on which grow the perfectly romantic rows of vines and on which rest the 300 charming Champagne villages.

 

The Champagne Making Process Explained

how champagne is being made

The Champagne wine harvest is controlled by Institution Comité Champagne which instructs the Domaines on which date the grape picking will start. The Institution Comité Champagne, also decides the quantity of the yield, for example for 2018 was 10,800 kg/ha.
 
So, even though 2018 was a bumper crop, only a limited number of grapes can be picked, so the excess grapes are wasted.

The “Route Touristique du Champagne” covers quite a large area of the region. From the north-west of Reims, south through Epernay and then all the way further south to Sezanne.

 

How To Read A Champagne Label. A 6 minutes video

 

In our trips we offer You best experiences in Champagne visiting Reims - its capital with Reims Cathedral - a stunning example of gothic architecture and UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, the historic town Épernay known as the Champagne capital of France with its Avenue de Champagne, called the most expensive Avenue in the World with its 200 million bottles in cellars and the Abbaye Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers, the former home of Champagne maverick Dom Pérignon. Aÿ is most famous as a centre of the production of Champagne. Aÿ's vineyards are located in the Vallée de la Marne subregion of Champagne, and are classified as Grand Cru (100%) in the Champagne vineyard classification. Many prestigious Champagne houses own vineyards in the immediate vicinity, and several producers are located in Aÿ, including Ayalaand Bollinger.

In Champagne you must visit at least one small local champagne producer and one grand champagne house as well. We suggest you both visits, because they are so much different! 

So we offer in Champagne a visit with tasting at:

• one small local champagne producer and
• one grand champagne house as well.

 

A 6 minutes video with explanation about the grapes and Champagne production

champagne

 

Northerly climate of Champagne region calls for a coat in the evening. Cellars maintain a cool 10ºC (50°F) and You visit lasts normally between 45 minutes to one hour! Dress dress appropriately, Comfortable shoes are recommended. Cellar and winery tours are on foot and can include climbing of long flights of stairs and uneven surfaces.

 

CHAMPAGNE PRODUCER

A champagne producer is normally a family company making champagne exclusively from their own vineyards. The producer will explain all about the production process, the grape varieties and the terroir. Champagne tasting by the local producer will make Your visit complete.

CHAMPAGNE HOUSE

The grand champagne houses have famous, household name. They produce champagne from their own vineyards as well as grapes purchased from other surrounding producers. This experience is different to visiting a small producer. Many grand champagne producers have a rich history and cellars that stretch for miles. In addition, their reputation is important to the Champagne region. After your tour, you will taste the champagnes made by this producer.

 

The temperature of Champagne & Cellaring time 

The right temperature for Champagne tasting today is between 6 and 9 degrees Celsius. As champagne wines appeared in the beginning of 18 century the temperature was between 6 and 8 degrees. Later around 1830 it became popular to drink champagne very cold at 2 to 3 degrees Celsius because that time there was a lot of sugar in the champagne and the taste of sugar was cooled down. Nowadays it returned practically to the start: between 6 and 9 degrees Celsius.

The cellaring time for vintage champagnes is longer. They may be opened between 7 and 10 years after purchase, or even later than that.

There is no benefit in keeping champagne longer than the recommended time. All the bottles of champagne that we sell have been aged in our cellars and they can be opened as soon as they are purchased. 

Keeping bottles longer may bring about changes in taste (more pronounced), colour (darker) and effervescence (less). In addition, the cuvées will probably develop differently from the one our oenologists wanted to convey.

AVOID RAPID CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE 45 - 65°F / 7 - 18°C

DO NOT EXPOSE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES TO LIGHT Light can damage the wine

CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE SIZES

 

Prestige Cuvée, Single Vineyard, & 31 Clos of Champagnes. What is the difference

 

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne - A family story shaped by quality and finesse

 

More informations about the Champagne region and Champagne production You can find at the Official site of Comité Champagne.

You are also welcome to visit visitlachampagne.travel.

 

champagne

Vintage Vs. Non-Vintage Champagne | How Sparkling Wine is Made?

champagne

 

The best Champagne houses in Champagne region to visit

 

Ruinart in Reims

 

Established in 1729, Ruinart is the first established Champagne house in the Champagne region, claiming prime position at the top of the hill on Rue des Crayères.  Ruinart posses the deepest and most spectacular chalk cellars - crayères in the region. It is the only classified as a national monument. Ruinart was the first to use these enormous chalk-mine caverns to age its Champagnes, and the score marks of their third-century Roman creators are still visible. After the visit the house offers a tasting of the Chardonnay-focused cuvées of Ruinart’s production. 

Champagne Ruinart, 4 Rue de Crayères, 51100 Reims

+33 (0)3 26 77 51 51, open Tuesday – Saturday. Visits by appointment only.

€70 per person for 2 hours guided visit with 2 Glass Champagne cuvées tasting.  

 

G.H. Mumm in Reims

 

Maison Mumm has nearly 218 hectares of vineyards rated at 98% on the champagne quality scale.

These are mainly sited in the eight most renowned Grands Crus in Champagne: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy, Verzenay, Avize, Cramant and Mailly-Champagne. These holdings cover 25% of Mumm’s production needs. The remaining 75% comes from independent growers with whom the company has developed strong ties.

This combination of its own vineyards and external supply enables the Maison Mumm to maintain a consistent style and continue its philosophy of close scrutiny over grape quality. At Mumm, the Cellar Master can call on raw materials of the very best quality from a range of sources.

In 1870, Maison Mumm built its own research laboratory to further its understanding of bottle fermentation. Since then, the company has constantly developed its expertise in order to offer champagnes of consistently high quality. "Only the best" was Georges Hermann de Mumm’s maxim.

THE

GRAPE

HARVEST

A TOUR OF THE  G.H. MUMM CELLAR, REIMS

Spread across almost 25 kilometers in the heart of the city of Reims, the underground passageways of the Mumm cellars are home to almost 200 years of history, expertise and passion. A storied heritage to be discovered in an unforgettable guided tour. 

34 rue du Champ de Mars – BP 2712
51053 Reims Cedex – France

Tel.: 03 26 49 59 70, guides@mumm.com

Opening hours:

From March 1st to October 31st. Daily:
– From 9:30 am to 01:00 pm, last departure at 11:30 am
– From 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, last departure at 4:30 pm

All infos about opening hours see here: https://www.mumm.com/en-ww/book-a-visit/

 

Veuve Clicquot in Reims

 

Veuve Clicquot is the second-largest Champagne house in the Champagne region with its annual production of 18 million bottles with compelling focus on the Pinot Noir grape. Veuve Clicquot is the most affordable of Champagne’s top prestige cuvées, and a particularly rare privilege of the house is its enchanting Cave Privée range of vintages, released after more than two decades in the cellars. A guided cellar tour and tasting are to be booked in advance. You can also book an “In the footsteps of Madame Clicquot” tour.

Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, 1 Place des Droits de l’Homme, 51100 Reims

1, rue Albert Thomas, 51100 Reims

Contact details for public tours :
+33 (0)3 26 89 53 90
visitscenter@veuve-clicquot.fr

Contact details for private tours :
+33 (0)3 26 89 42 64
Privatetours@veuve-clicquot.fr

€25 - €120 per person, depending on your chosen tour. Open Tuesday-Saturday, reservations are essential.

PRIVATE VISITS

Contact details:
+33 3 26 89 42 56
experiences@moethennessy.com

MANOIR DE VERZY

The romantic Manoir de Verzy has been a part of the Veuve Clicquot domain for more than a hundred years. Today the majestic private manor welcomes visitors for champagne tastings, gastronomic experiences, weddings, gatherings, picnics etc. Surrounded by a of roses garden and trails lined with hedges, the manor overlooks a breathtaking view onto the Champagne region.

10, rue Ernest Gringault 51380 Verzy

ST PETERSBOURG

With its Clicquot yellow decor, and a pool table, the bar stands ready for post-dinner flutes, or an elegant wedding brunch..The St Pétersbourg elegantly hosts conferences, weddings or five star meals, the space being modern, private and customizable.

1, Rue Albert Thomas 51100 Reims

 

Taittinger in Reims

Taittinger offers a visit of its 4km of crayères. Only custom tastings are available accompanied by a hostess with explanations of each cuvée. The legendary Comtes de Champagne – three million bottles of which reside in these galleries for up to a decade – ranks among the finest blanc de blancs in the world. 

Pierre Taittinger arrived in Champagne during World War I as an injured officer, convalescing in the Château de la Marquetterie, a French command post just outside Épernay. Smitten by the building and the landscape, he vowed to return to buy it should he ever have the means. 

Taittinger's headquarters is in Reims, a half-hour from the chateau, and in a massive 13th-century mansion on the Rue de Tambour. It sits above a network of chalk caves, originally dug out by Romans, quarrying the contents for building, dating back to the 4th century. 

Taittinger’s best wine is named Comtes de Champagne in Theobald’s honour, and the wine is 100 percent chardonnay. Taittinger remains a family business for another generation. With 288 hectares of vines, the Taittinger family is amongst the largest vineyard owners in Champagne. The vineyard is planted to 37% chardonnay, 48% pinot noir, and 15% pinot meunier distributed equally across 37 highly-rated vineyards, and on par with the best in the region.  

Champagne Taittinger, 9 Place Saint-Nicaise, 51100 Reims

+33 (0)3 26 85 84 33, +33 (0)3 26 85 45 35, contactez-nous@taittinger.fr

€15 - €55 per person, depending on chosen tour and discounts. Open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm. Group visits available with prior arrangement, reduced rates for minimum 20 people.

 

Champagne

 

Trésors de Champagne, La Boutique Reims

It is not a Champagne house but a modern place with tasting room and wine shop in Reims uniting 28 growers - members of the Champagne Special Club. Visitors can attend here a masterclass, buy 170 grower Champagnes and taste a selection.

Trésors de Champagne, La Boutique, 2 Rue Olivier Métra, 51100 Reims

+33 (0)3 26 48 28 42, Boutique open Tuesday-Saturday, daily hours vary please visit website for exact times. 

 

Moët & Chandon in Épernay

The wine cellars of Moët & Chandon are located under the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. They are an exceptional part of the company’s heritage, and offer a unique chance to witness several centuries of champagne production. This treasure trove, the largest network of underground wine cellars in the Champagne region, preserves the memory of the talent and work of generations.

Enter the 28 km of underground tunnels, the oldest of which dates back to the foundation of the company in 1743. Dug from the colossal white chalk stone of the Champagne region, the tunnels spread across several levels under the city.

The bottles of the most famous vintages are kept well protected here. In the half-light, the guide leads the way through the intersecting tunnels, each slightly different from its neighbours. The wine experts will reveal the secrets of the making of Moët & Chandon wines and the heritage and craft which have been enriched and transferred across generations of wine-cellar masters.

The wine-cellar visit ends with a champagne tasting session with the Moët & Chandon wine stewards, or sommeliers. Above the wine cellars, in the magnificent Moët & Chandon vineyard, the nineteenth-century Orangerie opens onto an elegant garden, which is perfect for holding special events. The heart of champagne beats in these historic locations. An essential visit for wine enthusiasts!

Tour with champagne tasting

L'ICONIQUE - Visite des caves et dégustation d'une flûte de Moët Impérial : 1h15 €25 per person,

L'INSTANT IMPÉRIAL - Visite des caves et dégustation d'une flûte de Moët Impérial et d'une flûte de Rosé Impérial : 1h15 €35 per person,

AUTOUR DU GRAND VINTAGE - Visite des caves et dégustation du millésime en cours, blanc et rosé : 1h30 €47 per person, depending on your chosen tour.

 

 

Maison Mercier in Épernay 

Founded in 1858, Mercier has a long history and one that is different from the other champagne producers of the same period. A unique character, stemming from the colourful personality of Eugène Mercier. A visionary and nonconformist, Eugène Mercier challenged the traditions of the Champagne region by creating a ‘champagne for all occasions’. Champagne was no longer reserved for the elite, but retained its remarkable quality. Designed to impress, the Mercier underground wine cellars are among the most visited in the Champagne region, with more than 100,000 tourists each year.

To promote his brand, Mercier staged many events to attract publicity: a floating bar attached to a hot-air balloon and anchored to the foot of the Chateau de Vincennes (which strong winds transported as far away as Belgium); a film in collaboration with the cinema pioneers, the Lumière brothers …

At Epernay, the Mercier family have opened up their exceptional wine cellars, which were developed by their audacious grandfather, to the public. Designed to impress, the Mercier wine cellars remain the most visited cellars in the Champagne region, with more than 100,000 tourists each year. 

A panoramic elevator, huge sculptures and wine casks

The visit starts with a film which retraces the history of the founder Eugène Mercier. Take the panoramic elevator and find yourself 30 m above the ground! Aboard the little train, with your multilingual audioguide, you travel along the impressive 18 km of tunnels. The wine cellars are the first to have been designed on one level and are set out geometrically. They were inspired by the design of New York and are intended to be easily accessible to visitors!

These splendid galleries are decorated with sculptures, carved into the chalk stone walls by artist Gustave Navlet, which you see as you travel along the tunnels. In the high vaults you can see the famous giant barrel, which contains 213,000 bottles of champagne!

Returning to the surface, enjoy a glass of Mercier champagne. At the far end of the galleries, the Bacchus vault turns out to be a surprising reception room. Beneath the 15-m high ceilings, this sumptuous space is decorated with two gigantic frescos, carved into the chalk stone. An ideal location to prolong the pleasure during private or professional occasions: seminars, cocktail receptions, weddings, etc.

 

Address: 68-70, avenue de Champagne, 51200 Épernay

+33 (0)3 26 51 22 22,  visitescaves@mercier.tm.fr

 

 

Boutique Champagne Perrier-Jouet in Epernay

 

At Maison Perrier-Jouët, the history of champagne began over 200 years ago. The House was founded by two independent-minded free spirits who shared a passion for art and nature – and a bold vision for champagne. The House has stayed true to this founding philosophy of creative freedom and an unconventional observation of nature ever since.

Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Rose-Adélaïde Jouët shared a love of nature and the arts. She was a cultured young woman from a Norman merchant family; he a masterful vintner and botanist. A year after their wedding, in 1811 they founded Maison Perrier-Jouët: born of their desire to create a Champagne House with a difference.  

The free-spirited founders selected Chardonnay as the signature of Maison Perrier-Jouët, elevating it from a little-used grape variety to the cornerstone of the world-renowned intricate, floral style of Perrier-Jouët champagne. Their attachment to the terroir, unconventional vision of champagne and belief in creativity redefined the history of champagne.

The destiny of Maison Perrier-Jouët has always been shaped by audacious choices, starting with the founders’ decision to make the Chardonnay grape the signature of the House, pioneering the intricate, floral style for which its famous champagne is recognised throughout the world.

Perrier-Jouët champagne is instantly identifiable for its distinctive intricate, floral style: on the nose, the captivating floral freshness and finesse of the House’s signature Chardonnay; on the palate, richness and complexity as – thanks to the cellar master’s knowledge of the terroir – meticulously selected individual crus are blended into an elegant, harmonious whole.  Combined with Champagne’s two red grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Meunier, Chardonnay is a lively, luminous presence. But the purest expression of Chardonnay is naturally to be found in the two single-grape cuvées: classic Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs and vintage Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs. 

Art Nouveau, inspired by the graceful, sinuous forms of nature, bloomed across Europe in the late-19th century. The movement's exuberance and creative freedom paved the way for 20th-century avant-garde art. The ethos of Art Nouveau was to reinvent nature to re-enchant the everyday. Just like Maison Perrier-Jouët's Art of the Wild vision of unbridled nature.

Maison Perrier-Jouët's affinity with the Art Nouveau movement is best expressed by the emblematic anemone motif illustrated for the House in 1902 by Emile Gallé. Today, the House's enduring bond with art and nature translates to an extravagant universe it calls Art of the Wild, which reinvents luxury as a meaningful experience with artistic collaborations.

 

 

 

Le Château Comtesse Lafond in Epernay

 

Open: 10:00am till 01:00pm, from 02:00pm till 06:00pm

 

VISITES DU DOMAINE et DEGUSTATION DE 3 CUVEES CHAMPAGNE COMTESSE LAFOND

Les visites du Domaine et dégustations sont accessibles aux horaires suivants : 11 h 00, 14 h 30 et 17 h 00. Tel. +33 (0)3 26 32 26 40 ou par mail à commercial@comtesselafond.com 

Comtesse Lafond – 79 avenue de Champagne, 51200 Epernay
Tél : 33 (0)3 26 32 26 40

Paris, 42 Avenue Victor Hugo,75116 PARIS
Tél. : 33 (0) 1 40 67 67 67

events@deladoucette.fr

 

 

Brut, Extra-Brut, or Zero? The Sweetness Levels of Champagne

 

Champagne

  

More informations about the Champagne region and Champagne production You can find at the Official site of Comité Champagne and at the official site of Champagne region.

 

The Best Advice For Pairing Champagne With Food

how to drink champagne

 

 

Champagne G. Tribaut in Hautvillers

 

It’s in Hautvillers, the Premier Cru village in the heart of the Marne Valley, where Dom Perignon lived. More than 12 hectares of the 3 Champagne grapes (Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay) allow to produce a wide range of champagne styles.

G. Tribaut vineyards were started in 1935. Today, that same passion continues by the 4th generation of family wine makers. The last few years have brought great changes – the cellars were expanded, new tasting rooms were built with beautiful panoramic views across the vineyard and the Marne Valley.

This is a nice house on the edge of the village of Hautvillers. The picturesque Hautvillers is located on a hill surrounded by vineyards. From the conservatory, you have a beautiful view over the vineyards, valley and rolling hills beyond.

During the summer months, there is a terrace outside where you can enjoy the sun while you do a tasting (no guided tours). The house is very popular, making an appointment before you come is highly recommended.

Monday to Saturday : 9.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 17.00 Booking needed for groups (+ 8 peoples). Unfortunately, we don't provide any tours of the cellar.

88 rue d'Eguisheim 51160 Hautvillers FRANCE

 

 

Champagne J.M. Gobillard et Fils in Hautvillers

 

The Champagne house J.M. Gobbilard et Fils is also to be found in Hautvillers. The birth certificate of the GOBILLARD vineyard dates back to 1933 when Gervais Gobillard decided to become independent and bought with his savings 1 hectare of vines in Hautvillers - the village of Dom Pérignon. He wanted to be a winegrower and make his own champagne.

At that time, only the big trading houses were successful. Small winegrowers like Gervais know nothing but poverty, and many of them give up. He perseveres in his conviction that champagne will not always be reserved for the “Greats” of this world. After several years of hard work, he has his own brand and above all he is already building customer loyalty. He passed on his passion for vines and wine to his son Jean - Marie. Champagne is becoming more democratic, vineyards are being replanted and the need for plants is enormous.

Inside of the house it is possible to do a popular tasting of different wines in tasting cellar located in front of the Abbey of Hautvillers. 

A guided tour is not possible but the tasting room is always full. Diagonally opposite this house is the little church Abbaye Saint-Pierre, the place where Dom Perignon is buried, certainly nice to visit swell.

From 01.03. till 30.09. all days, from 01.10. till 31.12. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays

Opening hours : 10.00am to 12.30pm and 02.00pm to 05.30 pm. Groups by appointment.                                            

Champagne JM Gobillard et Fils. 38 rue de l’Église - 51160 HAUTVILLERS

Tél. +33 3.26.59.44.20 + 33 326 51 00 24. caveau@champagne-gobillard.com 

 

CHAMPAGNE GIRAUD in Aÿ

 

Champagne Giraud is a relatively small family house from 1625  just 10 minutes from Épernay. The owner, Claude Giraud, attaches great importance to high quality and modernization of the production. Since January 2018, a ‘zero residue of pesticide’ label has been used, they are no longer working with steel fermentation tanks, but with oak casks and next to that they have a tree-planting project in the Argonne forest. All this results in a limited collection of delicious Champagnes.

The tour will be continued by the tasting of three different Champagnes, rising from light to increasingly heavier Champagnes. Besides the Champagnes, a visit to this house is also very nice if you like art. They have a big art collection, both modern and classical art. Visits goes only by appointment !

71 Boulevard Charles de Gaulle - 51160 Aÿ Champagne - FRANCE
Tél.: +33 (0)3 26 55 18 55 contact@champagne-tribaut-hautvillers.com