The Champagne région produces the world's most celebrated sparkling wine, and visiting it is an experience unlike any other. The famous Avenue de Champagne in Epernay is lined with grand Champagne houses whose cellars extend for kilometres beneath the city. Descend into the cool chalk galleries of Moet et Chandon, Pol Roger or Perrier-Jouet and witness millions of bottles ageing in perfect darkness. In Reims, Gothic cathedral and Champagne cellar tours make a natural combination for a day's visit.
Grandes Maisons vs. Grower Producers
The grandes maisons offer polished, well-organised tours with multilingual guides and impressive tasting rooms. Book well in advance, especially in summer. For a more personal experience, seek out recoltant-manipulants — small grower-producers who grow their own grapes and make wines that reflect individual terroir. Villages like Bouzy, Ambonnay and Ay on the Montagne de Reims are excellent hunting grounds for these artisanal cuvées, often at a fraction of the price of famous labels.
Beyond the Cellar: Champagne's Landscapes and Villages
The Champagne wine route links the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Cote des Blancs — three distinct areas each producing wines of différent character. Cycle through Chardonnay vineyards on the Cote des Blancs, walk the forested hillsides of the Montagne de Reims or visit the UNESCO-listed hillside vineyards for a broader view of the région. The harvest in September and October is a particularly atmospheric time to visit, when the whole région hums with activity and the smell of fermenting grapes fills the village streets.
