Visiting the Champagne region of France was unlike anything else I have experienced. The rolling hills dotted with the French architecture and the glasses of champagne from the historic houses I had only read about had me swooning for days. A short trip from Paris, I highly recommend renting a car for your journey to the region. This will ensure you can explore Reims, Épernay and Hautvillers in one glorious weekend. Cheers!
FRIDAY
When you arrive in Épernay, drop your bags at your hotel (the Première Classe Epernay is no-frills, but now there is more money to spend on champagne!) and head to the Avenue de Champagne! There are dozens of spots to visit along the route, including Moet (book a tasting) and Mercier. For my first day, I was more interested in getting a lay of the land, but the décor of the Perrier-Jouët had me staying for more than one glass.
A great spot for dinner is Sacré Bistro. The delicious menu boasts escargot and a rotating dessert, as well as tasty old-fashioneds!
For a nightcap (or a late-night champagne flight, because why not?), there's L'Atypique, a funky bar not too far from Sacré Bistro.
SATURDAY
On Saturday morning, head to Reims for a tour of Veuve Clicquot! There are a wide variety of tour options, but I was perfectly happy with the Veuve Clicquot's Solaire Icon option. We toured the cellar and learned about the history of making champagne, which spans hundreds of years. The tour concludes with a tasting of their signature Yellow Label, but don't pass up the chance to taste their vintage on the patio before heading to lunch. TIP: book a morning tour and grab a pâté crust from Paté Croûte Piquet's before.
There are a lot of options for lunch, especially if you want to venture further into Reims. There's Le Petit Comptoir or Café du Palais or Restaurant l'Apostrophe, depending on what you're in the mood for. TIP: Eat at the Café du Palais and then visit the beautiful Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims.
Before leaving, you absolutely must stop at the famous Reims chocolatier La Petite Friande and get a Biscuit Rose de Reims macaron. Pair one with a glass of champagne and you won't be disappointed.
If you don't want to head back to Épernay just yet, check out the Museum of the Surrender, where Germany signed their surrender to the Allies on May 7, 1945. I wasn't able to visit but my WWII history buff said it was fascinating.
It's time to make your way back to Avenue de Champagne in Épernay. Obviously there are countless options, but I will give you my favorites: Paul Etienne Saint Germain, Champagne de Castellane, Champagne Michel Gonet, Le Champagne de Venoge, and Champagne Boizel (definitely a new favorite). TIP: For a more "structured" experience, larger groups should call ahead and ask about tour/group options.
Make a dinner reservation at either La Grillade Gourmande or Chez Françoise. A more casual option would be Café le Progrès.
SUNDAY
If the weather is nice, hop aboard the Balloon D'Epernay, which soars 150 meters in the air to offer panoramic views of the town and region, all with a glass of champagne! Unfortunately I visited on a rainy weekend and missed out.
Now it's time to visit the most charming town in the region: Hautvillers! It's where Dom Perignon (the father of champagne) was buried and has the most amazing scene of rolling hills covered in vineyards. I would happily reside in this village for forever.
For a pastry break, Chez Poulain makes delicious homemade croissants.
Now that you've eaten some carbs, its time for more champagne! There are three fabulous spots you can't miss: Champagne Dagonet & Fils, Champagne G Tribaut (brought a bottle of their blanc de blanc home!), and Pierre Fedyk. I can't pick a favorite, but the views from the Tribaut tasting room are hard to bear.
At some point it's important to eat lunch, and you can't beat Au 36. I have eaten a lot of good food in Europe, but this simple meal was really incredible.
Before heading back to reality, stop by Entre Cave et Jardin, which sells champagne-related antiques. Unfortunately, I could not fit the vintage Dom Perignon champagne bucket in my suitcase on this trip...
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT TIPS
There are many champagne houses that I was not able to visit (which means I must go back at some point, right?), but I wanted to include: Mercier (this Epernay house has a train tour!), Tattinger (Reims), and Pommery.
For the more leisurely groups, it's best to visit 2-3 houses per day. Obviously this is not my style and I wanted to experience as much of the region as I could. Decide on your style beforehand and simply enjoy!
I cannot stress this enough, but if you are certain you want to go on a tour of a certain house (like Veuve), book beforehand. Reservations are your best friend, especially when traveling in a group.
Most visitors take a train from Paris to Epernay, so keep this in mind: Unless you feel like walking an hour to Hautvillers, it's challenging to get to without a car. You can flag down a taxi for a pretty penny and Ubers aren't found in the region. Johnny Africa has great recommendations on getting around without a car.
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