Visit Hautvillers and Champagne Tasting

In the morning, you will be driven through the Champagne Avenue in Epernay, the capital of Champagne where some of the most prestigious estates are based (Pol Roger, Perrier-Jouët, Mercier, Boizel, Moët & Chandon).  You will also visit Tattinger, one of the most famous producers of Champagne in the world.

Savour the moment in the vineyards, with breathtaking views on the UNESCO world heritage vines of Champagne, and acquire knowledge about the particularities of our ‘terroir’.

Then, you will be driven to Hautvilliers, which is the birthplace of Champagne. You will be able to enter the beautiful church where the famous monk Dom Pérignon is buried.

Then you will visit Maureil-sur-Ay and be welcomed into a Champagne House (Le Close Corbier). After a ‘Champagne quiz’, train your nose to identify the different aromas and flavours that can be found in Champagne through an old factory workshop.

Get competitive as you try to identify blindly three different Champagnes from boutique wineries whilst trying some local snacks.

Afterwards, enjoy a regional lunch with paired wines and Champagnes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Become familiar with local products including baguette, Reims’ ham, regional cheeses, Maison Fossier, Ratafia, and so on!

Appreciate the charming the hillsides of Champagne and explore a family-run boutique winery. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the traditional press, tank room cellar of an authentic Champagne grower. Wander around the cool cellar corridors and glance the immense quantity of bottles slowly maturing. Enjoy several tastings of their bestseller ‘cuvees’.

Accommodation

La Chevalée or similar

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

French Cookery Class

This morning you will be met by a professional chef in Reims, who will teach you how to make a typical French dish, which you will then be able to enjoy for lunch.

You will then meet your guide who will take you on a food tour of Reims, with a tasting of local ham, french cheeses, mustard, locally made sweets and a wine pairing.

Accommodation

La Chevalée( or similar)

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch (as part of the cooking class)

Departure

After breakfast, you will have a private transfer out to Reims train station. From there, we will have to say goodbye – but hopefully not for long!