Some 150 km to the east of Paris, the production area of the “champagne” appellation is a vast territory that occupies nearly 34,000 hectares.
Four major wine regions;
the Côte des Bar to the south, the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims and the Marne Valley further north, share the vineyard.
Listed since 2015 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its hillsides, houses and champagne cellars offer a multitude of pretexts for wine tourism visits!
And the opportunity to discover an appellation, with demanding specifications, where thrive, mainly, 3 great grape varieties which are pinot meunier, pinot noir and chardonnay.
On these limestone-dominated subsoils, the vines struggle during increasingly hot and drier summers to draw on their water resources.
Harvested by hand, according to yields set each year, only the finest grapes are selected and then handled with care.
At the end of the elaboration process, you will have to wait at least three years after picking before you can taste the precious sparkling nectar.
This explains, in part, the excellence of champagne and its fame far beyond our borders.
If the great bubble houses (Moët & Chandon, Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart, etc.) are mainly located in the north of the appellation, around Reims and Épernay, the Aube vineyard in Champagne - the Côte des Bar - which centralizes 23.5% of winegrower production, offers a face that is as confidential as it is authentic.
From visits to chalk mines in the North, to walks in the vineyards or in the air, from North to South, Champagne is a complex and fascinating wine tourism destination!
South of Champagne: the Côte des Bar
Aube en Champagne, the stronghold of Pinot Noir, unfolds 220 km of a Champagne Tourist Route dotted with forests, lakes, vineyards and picturesque villages.
Delimited in small valleys (L'Aube, Landion, L'Ource, Arce, Seine, La Laigne and La Sarce), this territory has very varied landscapes.
The villages of Bar-sur-Aube and Les Riceys are typical stops on a route rich in encounters with ultra-dynamic winegrowers!
LEARN TO COMBINE CHAMPAGNE AND CHEESES
Often accompanied by a red or even white wine, it turns out that cheeses are also tasted with champagne.
Romy Ducoulombier / Le Figaro
Located on the banks of the Seine, at the end of a park with majestic trees, the 18th century manor house belongs to the Devaux house.
This is where the Auboise Union of Cooperators, which lists 800 winegrowers, welcomes its visitors.
After a presentation of the place, of the brand - former family home - the visit continues through the greenhouse and the 17th century dovecote.
In the tasting room, make way for the workshop!
A cheese platter is offered to pair with 4 Devaux champagne cuvées.
The famous chaource, a cheese specialty from the region, will go hand in hand with the Cœur des Bar cuvée, a Blanc de Noirs 100% pinot noir, opulent and fruity.
Here, sensory discoveries take place through various thematic workshops: around cheese, chocolate or the influence of colors on tasting.
By reservation: 41 € / person.
Champagne Devaux, Hameau de Villeneuve, 10110 Bar-sur-Seine.
Phone.
: 03 25 38 30 65.
SLEEP IN A BUBBLE IN THE VINES
The third BubbleSuite in total autonomy in water and energy is installed in the organic vines of the Champagne house Gremillet.
Romy Ducoulombier / Le Figaro
In Balnot-sur-Laignes, very close to Les Riceys, the famous terroir of the Côte des Bar, the Gremillet champagne house has set up unusual accommodation in the middle of its vineyards.
As posed, in a small clos of Pinot Noir (Clos Rocher) a transparent bubble welcomes nature lovers for a stay under the stars.
Eco-designed and furnished with all the comforts of a luxury room, the cocoon can accommodate two people per night, from May to October.
The immersion in the vineyard is total!
Comfortably installed in bed, we observe the starry vault while the song of the birds wakes us up in the early morning.
In the nearby cadole, breakfast (and dinner) are served.
The winegrowers take care to leave gourmet baskets there for a stay in total freedom.
New to bring back in your suitcases: the Clos Rocher cuvée, the estate's flagship made with Clos grapes, is available for sale (€ 85).
200 € / night (breakfast included + 1 free bottle of champagne).
Dinner to be booked 48 hours in advance (75 € for 2 people) on routedesbulles.fr
FLY IN A MONTGOLFIÈRE OVER THE VINEYARD
The Champagne region is revealed in all its splendor thanks to this hot air balloon ride and will take you from surprise to surprise to discover another world.
Romy Ducoulombier / Le Figaro
Early, just before sunrise, or in the evening, 2 hours before sunset, embark on a hot air balloon flight.
For 40 years, a team of balloon enthusiasts has organized ascents in the air above the Aube vineyard.
After putting their hands in the paw to install the hot-air balloon, the passengers (from 2 to 8 people) embark in the basket which rises gently above the fields.
Depending on the variations in light and the altitude of the balloon (up to 1000 meters), the landscapes are changeable and above all, breathtaking.
Lasting one hour, the flight provides a good overview of the Riceys terroir, the Seine Valley or even the Montgueux vines or the lakes, depending on the destination chosen by the participants and, above all, by the wind.
A unique experience, provided the weather is fine.
From 190 € per person.
Allow 3 hours.
Reservations on the champagne-air-show.fr website and possibility of combining a night at the Château de Géraudot + 1 private flight.
SEARCH FOR TRUFFLE WITH A VINEYARD
At the Domaine de Mondeville of the Dumont family, it is the “
fairies
” who guide you between vines clinging to steep hillsides and Clairvaux forest filled with mystery.
Fairy Footprint
The 13 hectares of vines cultivated by the Dumont family are spread around the village of Champignol-lez-Mondeville.
At the start of the operation (in organic conversion), Delphine offers extra-fun wine tourism experiences.
New: his “Trufficulteur for a day” day.
In the company of Pinot, a young dog trained in cavage (the search for truffles), Delphine takes her troop in search of black gold.
At the end of this “treasure hunt”, the participants taste the champagne of the Dumont family given to a meal composed of truffled dishes.
Many other experiences to discover on the site of the Fairies Footprint.
Truffle day: 149 € / pers.
Champagne Dumont-Domaine de Mondeville, 9 rue de Champagne, 10200 Champignol-lez-Mondeville.
Phone.
: 03 25 27 52 78/07 86 95 89 15.
Travel diary to visit the Marne ...
UNDERGROUND, IN THE CRAYERES OF THE BUTTE SAINT-NICAISE
The cellars of Taittinger champagne.
Reims E.Vidal-Coll / ADT Marne
In Reims, visiting the chalk pits of the Butte Saint-Nicaise is a stunning experience!
Welcome to a world of silence.
In these mazes of underground galleries, dug in old chalk quarries, the great houses age their vintages.
Well-documented tours are offered, among others, by:
Champagne Taittinger (Visite@taittinger.com; Tel: 03 26 85 84 33.)
Champagne Vranken-Pommery (Visiteprivees@vrankenpommery.fr and champagnepommery.com; Tel.: 03 26 61 62 56.)
Champagne Ruinart (Visiteruinart@ruinart.com; Tel.: 03 26 77 21 52.)
Allow around 2 hours with a final tasting, by reservation.
SLEEP AT THE VINEYARD
The guest rooms at Logis aux Bulles in Verzy.
The Logis aux Bulles-Duhic
In Verzy, a grand cru village nestled in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Edith Mouligneaux welcomes you to one of its 3 guest rooms.
Warm and tastefully decorated, they are all located above the village grocery store.
A stone's throw away, the family cellar of Mouligneaux-Gourdain champagne where tours and tastings are organized!
The opportunity to discover this 2.5 hectare property, operated by the family for 5 generations.
On the plateau, at the exit of the village in the direction of Épernay, the walk continues in the forest of twisted beeches - the Faux de Verzy - a real natural curiosity!
From 90 to 140 € / night.
Le Logis aux Bulles, 10 rue de Chanzy, 51380 Verzy.
Phone.
: 03 26 08 95 64.
VISIT THE CITE DU CHAMPAGNE IN AŸ
At the foot of the Aÿ hillsides, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Cité du Champagne opens the doors to the oldest cooperative of Champagne winegrowers.
City of Champagne Collet Cogevi
Located at the foot of the hills of Aÿ, in the middle of the vineyards, the oldest cooperative of Champagne winegrowers opens its doors to the public.
Museographic space, visit of century-old cellars, workshops and masterclasses are on the program of this educational center installed on the production site of Collet champagne.
Entrance: 28 €.
The visit includes a tasting.
Cité du champagne Collet-COGEVI, 32bis rue Jeanson 51160 Aÿ.
Phone.
: 03 26 55 98 88.
TOASTING IN THE TREES AT THE PERCHING BAR
The Perching Bar welcomes you until the beginning of December for a perched tasting.
Vidal Coll / ADT Marne
Located in the forest of the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park, the Perching Bar welcomes you until the beginning of December for a tasting perched.
To access the bar, you will have to walk slowly on a flexible footbridge suspended in the trees.
At the end of this little adventure in itself, which recalls the principle of the tree climbing park just next door, you reach a first terrace.
The champagne bar is deployed around the large oak tree.
A la carte, well-known champagne houses and cuvées from local producers.
From the second platform, installed 10 meters above the ground, the view of the dense forest and the vineyard is breathtaking.
Reserve your time slot and pay online at perchinglife.com: € 21 (access + cup).
Phone.
: 06 07 67 94 42.
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