A sparkling tour of Champagne with Jilly Goolden

3 days

Friday 24th - Sunday 26th April 2020

Enjoy exclusive tastings and unique access to some of the finest Champagne houses on a three-day tour of the classic French wine region of Champagne. Beloved wine critic and broadcaster Jilly Goolden will join you and talk you through her life and career, before answering any burning questions you may have!

Trip Highlights

  • Exclusive talk and Q&A session with Jilly Goolden.

  • Executive coach travel to Champagne, so you can drink and not drive. Plus, you will have room to bring back as many cases of champagne as you like!

  • Two nights at the four-star Hôtel de la Paix in the heart of Reims, with breakfast every morning.

  • Spectacular full-day guided Champagne tour.

  • Visit a Grand Cru estate with over four centuries of expertise and rare cuvées of exceptional character.

  • Visit Champagne Ayala, sister house to Bollinger, and taste three non-vintage and two vintage champagnes.

  • Four-course dinner with champagne at Brasserie du Boulingrin.

  • Visit the small, quality-driven Champagne house Ployez-Jacquemart and enjoy a Champenoise buffet lunch paired with one of the estate's speciality champagnes, and an exclusive tasting with the owners of the distinguished family producer.

from $1,129 per person

This is a guide price based on two people travelling together and sharing a room. This package currently includes executive coach travel from London. Please note this package is based on a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 34 people travelling.


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Trip details

Day 1

Arrive into Champagne this afternoon after your comfortable executive coach ride from London. Embark on an afternoon visit to a celebrated Grand Cru estate, with over four centuries of expertise and rare cuvées of exceptional character.

In the evening, unwind with fabulous local cuisine in one of the region’s renowned local restaurants. Founded in 1925, the Brasserie du Boulingrin is a veritable institution in Champagne and a must-visit for a delicious traditional meal. You’ll be served an exquisite four-course gourmet menu in the private dining room. Later this evening, you’ll hear a talk from our beloved wine expert, Jilly Goolden, followed by a Q&A session in which you can ask her your burning questions regarding all things wine!

Day 2

Tuck into breakfast in the dining room of your hotel this morning, before meeting with your Champagne wine guide. Today you’ll embark on a Champagne tour of the beautiful Montagne de Reims. You’ll travel down the scenic Route du Champagne, meander among the vineyards and picturesque villages, and gaze unto the charming bucolic landscape. The tour begins with a walk in the vineyards with a glass of champagne alongside your guide, followed by a visit to Champagne Ayala, one of the most exciting stories in Champagne today. The sister house to Bollinger, Ayala is one of the original twenty-six Grandes Marques. Ayala produces fine and elegant champagnes, epitomised by the elegant Brut Majeure NV. Enjoy a wonderful private tour and tasting of the full range of Champagne Ayala: three non-vintage and two vintage champagnes.

Next up, you’ll visit a distinguished family producer and enjoy a highly personal tour of the Champagne house with the owners of the estate (Ployez-Jacquemart, one of the best-kept secrets in the realm of world-class bubbly). Enjoy an exclusive private tour and vintage tasting at this small, quality-driven Champagne house that only works with grapes grown in Grand Cru & Premier Cru villages. It’s also one of the last of a dozen Champagne houses still running extra ageing of its bottles on point (upside down).

Following the tour, enjoy a tasting of three champagnes (followed by a fourth served with lunch). Unwind with a Champenoise buffet lunch paired with one of the estate’s speciality champagnes which are partially aged into oak barrels. Late afternoon transfer back to the hotel to relax and enjoy the city of Reims.

SmoothRed will include a list of recommended restaurants to enjoy tonight (dinner not included).

Day 3

Enjoy a final breakfast in the dining room before taking the morning to enjoy the beautiful city of Reims. Take a stroll in the pedestrian shopping districts or perhaps enjoy an afternoon visit to the magnificent Cathédrale Notre Dame, an immense Gothic structure noted for its elegance and harmony.

You’ll depart from Reims later today with executive coach travel back to London.

All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you

This sample itinerary is intended to give you a flavour of what we can do.

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Hôtel de la Paix

Part of the Best Western Premier group, the Hôtel de la Paix sits in the heart of Reims old town, in close proximity to historic…

France, 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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