Champagne region tours - recommendations?

[sydks]

Hi All,

Very excited to be planning our first trip to the Champagne region in France this April and am wanting to organise a really great small group or private tour of Champagne houses over 1 or 2 days. I know with all the Champagne lovers here that many of you will have visited before and done similar, so looking for advice on any great small tour operators that can take the trip from great to amazing!

We are staying at Les Crayeres (Domaine Les Crayeres | OFFICIAL SITE | Hotel & Restaurant Reims) which is very close to the house of Veuve, so we will probably just walk to them ourselves, but ideally we would love to also visit both Taittinger and Moet (for the Dom Perignon experience) - with private tasting's during the tour if possible as well as any other houses that people think are must do's?

I don't know if you can visit the likes of Krug/Perrier Jouet/Bollinger or Salon (which sadly we won't get to taste in JL First Class on the way to Paris after they downgraded this year to Cristal!) - but if anyone has any other info, suggestions, advice or recommendations to make the most out of our stay (we are there 3 nights) it would be most appreciated!

Thanks in advance
Sydks

 

[Deleted member]

I’ve not done an “organized” tour as such or any champagne house, I have however done a couple of “freelance “ visits. We had a tour which I don’t think is possible ordinarily, through the house “de Venoge” which can be found on the Avenue de champagne in Epernay. I do recommend a visit to their tasing rooms. They also have small plate food as well.
It is also possible to stay on site. They have very luxurious accommodations.
If you’re looking for a seriously good restaurant, follow this link. (It’s in French unfortunately)
La Grillade Gourmande

I have attached a photo of the main building.

 

[Deleted member]

PS. You can buy de Venoge in Sydney from Bardwell Park Cellars.
Here is the link to de Venoge
Champagne de Venoge – Situé au coeur de la champagne à Epernay, la diversité est le maître-mot de la Maison de Venoge : des cuvées individuelles, conçues pour exprimer toute la richesse d'un terroir, la typicité d'un cépage et les possibilités d'alliance.

 

[Pushka]

Just this morning I sent off an enquiry to this website:
Full Day Semi-Private

We will be in Paris for my birthday and 40th wedding anniversary this year in June. So why not visit the Champagne region on the day.

A few years ago we stayed at Epernay and visited the Moet House and went on a tour. Epernay is wonderful but small but worth a visit if time free. The experience of visiting the cellars and the lovely time we had means that I remember that great holiday every time I drink Moet so of course that’s my favourite even though others may scoff.


Dom Perignon cellar


The Avenue described by GPH as above.


This year it’s just a Paris stop so will take the TGV to Reims for the day. We were going to do a completely DIY but decided that we wanted to visit a couple of the boutique cellars not open to the public, as well as Taittinger which is much more organised. I also want to go into the vineyards which you can’t do in Epernay.

 

[JohnM]

I'd recommend a visit to the village of Hautvillers and the Abbey of Dom Perignon. It looks down on Epernay from the surrounding hills, so it is quite scenic.

There's some small producers with tasting rooms along the street opposite.

 

[Major]

We visited this area a couple of years ago and took a tour from Home.
Our guide was Eric Martin and despite the name he is French. Lunch was in a courtyard of one of the small Champagne Houses with great food and the bottles just kept coming. Visited a couple of small places as well as the big name brands. We had a great day and although not cheap we were very satisfied.

 

[Pushka]

We visited this area a couple of years ago and took a tour from Home.
Our guide was Eric Martin and despite the name he is French. Lunch was in a courtyard of one of the small Champagne Houses with great food and the bottles just kept coming. Visited a couple of small places as well as the big name brands. We had a great day and although not cheap we were very satisfied.

that’s the same one I posted upthread. Great to hear you enjoyed it.

 

[Deleted member]

No prize for guessing where we are

View attachment 117819 I’ve not done an “organized” tour as such or any champagne house, I have however done a couple of “freelance “ visits. We had a tour which I don’t think is possible ordinarily, through the house “de Venoge” which can be found on the Avenue de champagne in Epernay. I do recommend a visit to their tasing rooms. They also have small plate food as well.
It is also possible to stay on site. They have very luxurious accommodations.
If you’re looking for a seriously good restaurant, follow this link. (It’s in French unfortunately)
La Grillade Gourmande

I have attached a photo of the main building.

 

[Pushka]

No prize for guessing where we are

View attachment 117880




View attachment 117881 View attachment 117882 View attachment 117883 View attachment 117884

le filet de bœuf en croûte looks glorious. Mmmmm. Epernay again maybe.

 

[sydks]

GPH - you have certainly whet the appetite with those pictures!!! Can taste the escargot, will certainly put that place on the list!!

Pushka & Major - thank you for the recommendation of La Vigne du Roy, looks exactly like the type of thing I was hoping for and you are clearly 2 happy customers so have already sent off an enquiry!

JohnM - I've had a look into Hautvillers and the Abbey of Dom Perignon on your advice and definitely on the itinerary, fascniating reading a bit more of the history of Dom Perignon! I have read some information about a Dom wine tasting/experience in the Abbey however can't find anywhere to actually book it! If anyone has any info on this or has done similar please let me know!

Has anyone done any of the Private tours at Veuve (see here Private tours | Veuve Clicquot) - love to hear thoughts on these over the 'standard' experiences (Maison Veuve Clicquot - Luxury champagne

 

[TheRealTMA]

Interesting discovery at Pol Roger!

Treasure trove of 120 year-old Pol Roger champagne unearthed from collapsed cellar

 

[Deleted member]

le filet de bœuf en croûte looks glorious. Mmmmm. Epernay again maybe.

Not beef, put a pigeon Pithivier. Very rich and not for the faint hearted, a full assault on the senses. The escargot were the best I have ever tasted.

 

[Deleted member]

If you PM “marsdenman “ he has some very good contacts with some of the lesser known , but equally good champagne houses.

 

[Pushka]

Not beef, put a pigeon Pithivier. Very rich and not for the faint hearted, a full assault on the senses. The escargot were the best I have ever tasted.

Ok, yeah, Nah, sounds a little full on for me. Hubby might like to try though yet he wont try escargot but I like them.

The Tour people I referenced earlier have indicated I cant do a full day group tour because I want to try on a Sunday (anniversary and b/day) but the train timetable doesnt work for the full day. We can visit the smaller houses but not one of the more established ones. I am thinking about it some more.

 

[diningdecadence]

(NB info from 2014)

we did the veuve vintage cheese & champagne down in the 'pits'. was excellent (got lucky as the (now) wife and I were the only ones on the tour)

also did ruinart which was a bit bleh

perhaps wisely, but somewhat annoyingly, they were practicing RSA with us so it took a great deal of persuasion to get a top-up

link to the blog which i've let go - this was when i was just learning about blogs so apologies about the slow loading.
Reims - Veuve Cliquot | Dining Decadence
Reims - Ruinart | Dining Decadence

 

[robtemt]

We did the tour at Mumm, with the Vintage tasting. We felt once you see one of the big house tell you how they make champagne, it was all kind of the same. A trip to Ay, to see some of the smaller houses would be a worthwhile adventure. We had a private tour and tasting at Brimoncourt which was our favourite experience in all of the Champagne region. We'd suggest going to places that do multiple tastings, while enjoying a beautiful french lunch.

Perrier Jouet doesn't do public tasting (industry only).

Can I suggest Chex Max for dinner in Epernay? Family owned restaurant, with beautiful food and some champagnes you'd never find elsewhere.

Also, in Ay, you can't pass up Rotisserie Henri IV

If you're looking for a store that has amazing variety and great prices, this location in Reims is a must go to Vins CPH, La Grande Boutique du vin, caviste à Reims, Beaune et Chalons

 

[sydks]

Well excited to report that we have confirmed a full day private tour with La Vigne du Roy taking in a Dom Perignon experience, visit to Hautvillers, lunch as well as tastings at 3 smaller champagne houses! Really starting to get excited now!!

We have also booked in tastings at Taittinger and Veuve on other days and will be able to explore Epernay ourselves as we are staying so close.

robtemt - Think we will definitely include a meal at Chex Max too, looks great!!

Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and recommendations - it's been very helpful and most appreciated!!

 

[WayneJ]

Hi All,

Very excited to be planning our first trip to the Champagne region in France this April and am wanting to organise a really great small group or private tour of Champagne houses over 1 or 2 days. I know with all the Champagne lovers here that many of you will have visited before and done similar, so looking for advice on any great small tour operators that can take the trip from great to amazing!

We are staying at Les Crayeres (Domaine Les Crayeres | OFFICIAL SITE | Hotel & Restaurant Reims) which is very close to the house of Veuve, so we will probably just walk to them ourselves, but ideally we would love to also visit both Taittinger and Moet (for the Dom Perignon experience) - with private tasting's during the tour if possible as well as any other houses that people think are must do's?

I don't know if you can visit the likes of Krug/Perrier Jouet/Bollinger or Salon (which sadly we won't get to taste in JL First Class on the way to Paris after they downgraded this year to Cristal!) - but if anyone has any other info, suggestions, advice or recommendations to make the most out of our stay (we are there 3 nights) it would be most appreciated!

Thanks in advance
Sydks

Hi, Sounds fantastic, My wife and I are staying at Les Crayeres for 3 nights in September this year. Although we booked the accommodation ourselves we are doing tours arranged through SmoothRed - Wine Tasting Holidays, Tours and Weekends

They are taking care of our Loire Valley and Bourdeaux wine tours also.

My wife an I are counting the days.

Enjoy

Wayne