France: Champagne 3 Night

The Region

Champagne is home of Dom Perignon, the 17th century monk and monastery cellar master who is credited with being the first to leave the second sugar to alcohol fermentation by-product carbon dioxide in the bottle. Here's a tidbit worth knowing: the longer that Champagne ages in the cellars, the tinier the bubbles! It's critical to know that Champagne is not merely a type of wine but a geographic region with appellation designation. And, only wine made in the Champagne region can be called champagne. That's why all Spanish and Italian sparkling wines and some American sparkling wines are not legally called champagne. Geographic - terroir, climater and weather for instance - factors, unique to specific locations truly affect the wine end product and this authenticity is of utmost importance to French winemakers wherever they are situated. In the case of champagne, the terrior is a unique soil mixture of clay and chalk that helps differentiate champagne from all other sparkling wines. Here, 110 companies aka Houses each with its own style of winemaking produce champagne from 19,000 growers who produce three and only three types of grape - Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, the latter two red grapes but with white juice. They result in many styles of "sweetness level" ranging from Extra Brut, Brut,Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec to the sweetest, Doux.

The Must Sees

The sacred town of Reims, the capital of the Champagne region,is most note-worthy as the city of coronations where most of the French Kings were crowned at the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims- an amazing gothic structrure. South of Reims is Troyes a city dating back to Roman times and whose citycenter is arranged in the shape of a champagne cork. It is also home of the world-champion chocolate maker, Pascal Caffet! Epernay, the commercial capital of 'Capital of champagne - the wine boasts that L'Avenue de Champagne is the most expensive in the world - more so than the Champs-Élysées in Paris, Fifth Avenue in NY and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It derives its name and fame from the presence of of the millions of bottles of champagne stored in the kilometres of chalk cellars beneath it.

Champagne Houses

On this adventure of discovery and tastings, you may visit a mix of big names and superb small independent producers. Here are a few of those: Ruinart, Veuve Cliquot, Geoffroy, Drappier, Autreau de Champillon, Taittinger, Henriot, Moet & Chandon, Lanson, Demoiselle and Pommery.

Accommodation

Hotel l'Assiette Champenoise is located just a few minutes from the center of Reims, set in a peaceful 4 acre park. The hotel boasts "refined luxury and gourmet indulgence" and the acclaimed restaurant is one of Champagne's finest.

Upgrade Property

Hotel Les Crayeres is the top-rated hotel in the Champagne region, and one of the very best in the whole of France. The Michelin-starred restaurant is famous world-wide, and Parisiens regularly make the trip out here just for dinner. The hotel is situated in its own wooded park, is extremely exclusive and the service is exquisite. There is no better place to stay!

Inclusions

• 4 days & 3 Nights hotel in shared double/twin room and local taxes
• 3 Breakfasts
• 1 dinner at your hotel (wine not included)
• 1 tasting lunch at a champagne producer
• 4 Winery visits
• All Champagne tasting fees
• Artisan visit
• For self-drive program: includes rental car or van with Basic insurance (upgrades and additional insurance available, maps and detailed driving instructions/tips if you choose this option.
• For private chauffeur program : includes car or van , wine expert driver & guided commentary if you choose this option.
• for days and nights when lunch or dinner is not included, wine world management will provide recommended dining establishments and even make your reservation at no additional charge. (Note: transportation to/from dinner is not included, and will be arranged with local taxis as needed)

Exclusions

Round trip airfare, customs fees, telephone, tips and taxis, alcoholic beverages, wine and dining there not are not specifically included in itinerary and personal items.

Pricing:

All prices shown are per person double occupancy (twin share) and ultimately depend on program chosen, preferred accommodation, number of guests and type/size of rental car if self-drive. Prices that "can be as low as" refer to lowest per person price possible based on a group (3 couples, etc) of six like-minded wine and gourmet dining enthusiasts traveling together.

Self Drive Program priced from $1,719.00 per person double occupancy but can be as low as $1,649.00 based on the number of travelers in your party.

Chauffeur Program priced from $3,029.00 per person double occupancy but can be as low as $1,999.00.

Please Note: For our clients who do not wish to worry about driving and following our spot-on directions, we recommend our private chauffeur-driven and guided version of the same itinerary but with wonderful local knowledge, insider information and "flavour" that only an experienced and friendly French driver / guide can provide. It's truly a great value and a relaxing, fun experience.

Champagne Wine World Itinerary

Your Wine World adventure can begin Monday through Friday.

Day 1
Morning - Arrive Reims rail station, pick up rental car or pick up car in Paris and drive to Champagne (90 min). Follow directions supplied to your hotel in Reims.

Afternoon - free to explore the city of Reims (including the magnificent cathedral where French kings and queens were crowned over the centuries) and the surrounding wine country so you can orient yourselves for tomorrow's tours.

Dinner - reservations have been made for you in your hotel's gourmet restaurant (wine not included).

Day 2
Morning - This morning you'll be tasting in the champagne houses of Reims. We have arranged one visit for you this morning at 10:00, then you can either lunch in Reims or drive to Epernay for lunch (about 20 min).

Afternoon - This afternoon enjoy a tasting in Epernay's famous "Champagne Alley" where many of the greatest names are to be found.

Dinner - Return to Epernay or Reims for dinner at your own pace, and stay at the same hotel tonight.

Day 3

Morning - This morning you will taste another producer in Reims, then your program is open to depart at your leisure to continue your travels.

Afternoon - Today we have arranged for lunch at a champagne house, then we send you out to the country of the Cote des Blancs to discover one of the independent producers of Champagne. The vast majority of grapes here are grown, vinified and sold to the big houses by thousands of small growers, but some of them have managed to remain independent and produce excellent champagnes that have true individual character. It would be a shame to come to Champagne and not experience a taste of these!

Dinner - Return to Reims with time to shop if you wish, and dine at your choice of the fine restaurants of this historic city.

Day 4
Depart to continue on your travels according to your own itinerary. Either return your rental car in Reims and take the train, or drive back to Paris.
Note: Your rental car, if on a self-drive tour, runs from the time you picked up on the first day to the same time on this day. If you keep the car longer than this you will incur additional costs.