Champagne Tours
At SmoothRed we love our Champagne tours. And not just for their fizzy delights. As well as the vineyards and châteaux along the scenic Route du Champagne, Champagne is also home to stunning sights, rich and rustic culinary specialities and relaxing river and canal cruises.
All Our Champagne Tours
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More About Champagne
Explore the Route de Champagne…
“Come quick, I am drinking the stars!” – with these words, the monk Dom Pérignon is said to have announced his invention of Champagne in the late 17th century. And he certainly wouldn’t be the first to be driven to poetic paroxysms by the scintillating wines of the Champagne region.
Alas, like so many great stories, this is probably something of a myth. The romantic quote was actually first used in an advertising campaign in the 1880s. And there’s strong evidence to suggest that sparkling wine was first produced intentionally around 1662 by Christopher Merret, a scientist from Gloucester. So perhaps it’s closer to West Country scrumpy than we might think.
“I drink Champagne when I’m happy”
Myths aside, there can be no doubt that Champagne is the benchmark by which all other sparkling wines are judged. Lily Bollinger, scion of the famous Champagne house famously said, “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.”
Whilst we would never dream of arguing with Mademoiselle Bollinger and we too are more than happy to drink Champagne anywhere, anytime, few things can beat drinking this most exquisite of drinks in the very region where it is produced.
Champagne Activities
Popular places to visit
Of course, on our SmoothRed Champagne tours you’ll have plenty of chances to taste the region’s favourite export. But beyond the châteaux you’ll also want to visit some of its most popular attractions too.
Like the 13th century cathedral in the heart of romantic Reims. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the greatest gothic cathedrals in all of northern France. And, if you’re that way inclined, you might like to try counting all its 2,303 statues. Although you will end up with a sore neck.
Visit Epernay
Further south, in the heart of Champagne country, the small town of Epernay is home to many of the most famous producers of fizz. From Moët & Chandon to Perrier-Jouët, it’s a delightful place to spend an easy afternoon wandering on foot between Champagne houses and cellars.
Then head a few miles southeast to the scenic Lac du Der, the largest reservoir in Europe and a great place to relax or indulge in a spot of bird-watching. Or maybe visit the historic old town of Troyes to marvel at its gorgeous half-timbered houses.
And let’s not forget Hautvilliers, the lively vignerons village famous for its abbey where Dom Pérignon plied his trade as cellar-master. Not to mention other famous Champagne villages like Rilly-la-Montagne and Verzy.
Champagne Wine Guide
Wine and cuisine in Champagne
The Champagne region’s terroir is unique. Its Northern location, rugged climate, chalky soil and rolling countryside make it the ideal place to grow the Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes that are predominantly used to make Champagne.
We say predominantly because technically Champagne can use a number of other grapes too. Varietals such as Petit Meslier, Petit Blanc and Arbane are grown in very small quantities and added to blends, with some houses even producing wines made solely from one or more of these lesser known grapes.
The grapes of Champagne
The first, Pinot Noir, is most widely planted in the Aube region, while the second, Pinot Meunier takes up much of the Vallée de la Marne. The Côte des Blancs is dedicated almost exclusively to Chardonnay.
And, of course, they take their regional boundaries seriously in Champagne. Since 1942 the region has been overseen by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), which rates vintages based on the quality of their grapes and vineyards. Nice work if you can get it.
Champagne cuisine
Now, some would say you shouldn’t really eat while drinking Champagne, but we think those people can fizz off. From refined dining like oysters and snails in Champagne sauce, to the region’s rustic pleasures of venison, boar, rabbit and pheasant, you can be sure to dine every bit as well as you drink on one of our champagne tours.
Champagne Gourmet Guide
Whilst some people believe one shouldn’t really eat while enjoying the wines of Champagne, in fact, the acidity and body of the drink make it a surprisingly good food wine. Champagne, be it pink, vintage or non-vintage, can be paired with a range of foods, with the latter – perhaps counter-intuitively – a good pick for fish and chips. The extra body of pink fizz makes it a little more flexible, whilst the extra depth and yeastiness of some vintage bottles makes them perfect to pair with wild mushrooms, parmesan or, for maximum decadence, truffles!
In terms of local delicacies to try on a visit to Champagne you have lots to choose from. Reims, the capital of the region, is famed for ham and, rather handily, mustard. In Troyes, andouillette is an offal sausage unlikely to appeal to all. Various cheeses are produced locally and one of those, Langres, is a great nibble alongside Champagne.
For those with a sweeter tooth, les biscuits roses de Reims, or pink biscuits, date to the 17th century and are a crunchy treat, whilst Champagne-filled chocolate truffles are another fabulous, decadent treat.
There is no shortage of stunning restaurants in Reims, Epernay, Troyes and Champagne’s smaller towns and villages. From Michelin-starred establishments perfect for that special meal to local bistros serving venison, wild boar, rabbit or pheasant, you will be spoiled for choice. Expect to see Champagne in sauces, foams and deserts and, who knows, you might even get to drink a glass or two of the fizzy stuff on your Champagne wine holiday!
Champagne Hotels
La Caserne Chanzy Hôtel & Spa
Located in a former fire station opposite the magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, La Caserne…
Champagne Region
Château de Sacy
Lovingly restored from a 19th century ruin, the Château de Sacy is an intimate, romantic…
Champagne Region
Domaine Les Crayères
Set within seven hectares of beautifully manicured grounds on the edge of Reims, Domaine Les…
Champagne Region
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa
Perched on a vine-clad hilltop in the village of Champillon, the Royal Champagne Hotel and…
Champagne Region
Hôtel de la Paix
Part of the Best Western Premier group, the Hôtel de la Paix sits in the…
Champagne Region
L'Assiette Champenoise
Hidden within a traditional timbered exterior, L’Assiette Champenoise is a thoroughly modern hotel in the…
Champagne Region
Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne
Inspired by the natural beauty of the region, the Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne…
Champagne Region
“Thanks for taking the time and trouble to call. You really have set the standard by which we compare all other companies!! Thank you so much for organising a fantastic itinerary with such an interesting and varied range of stop-overs. We are already starting to think about next year’s trip to France so would welcome any suggestions.”
Hilary Alder
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