Day 1 (Mondays or Wednesdays**):
Arrival in Epernay
Upon your arrival, you can check in to your hotel. Take the time to settle in and relax before some explorations by foot of the charming town of Epernay itself, the capital of the Champagne region. After you have worked up your appetite, enjoy your gourmet dinner this evening, included.

Day 2 (Tuesdays or Thursdays**):
World Famous Champagne Houses
Your guide will pick you up after breakfast, and you head out of Epernay together onto the scenic Route du Champagne. This lovely route meanders among vineyards and picturesque villages, offering a charming bucolic landscape. We’ll spend time in the Côte des Blancs, home of some of the most famous Champagne Houses such as Bollinger, Gosset, or Deutz. They are nestled amongst beautiful Grand Cru villages like Ay, Hautvillers, Bouzy, Le Mesnil, and Vernezay, where your guide will stop and explain the vineyards, and different winemaker techniqes. Afterwards, having worked up a thirst, we return to Epernay to tour and taste at Moët & Chandon, and walk along the long and impressive “Champagne Avenue“, filled with opulent mansions, while your guide recounts stories of the renowned Champagne Houses like Perrier-Jouet and Mercier... – underneath your feet are over 100 kms of cellars! Then you will have earned your lunch: a champagne tasting lunch, during which you will taste the Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and a Rosé, to accompany a delicious meal. A great way to learn about Champagne! After lunch, we explore the vineyards of the Marne Valley, for a final tasting at a smaller, family-run winery. From there we continue on to discover the prestigious figure and history of Dom Pérignon who finalized the process to elaborate Champagne. Having contributed to the fame of Champagne, his final resting place is in the church of the former Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers. We return you to your hotel at the end of the day.

Day 3 (Wednesdays or Fridays**):
Reims, Mumms and the Montagne de Reims
Your guide will meet you again after breakfast; you leave Epernay to drive to the historic centre of Reims, home of several great Champagne Houses like Veuve Cliquot, Taittinger, and Pommery, names which conjure images of fabulous parties, or romantic candlelit dinners… The day starts in earnest with a guided tasting tour of one the most well-known houses, Mumm. After our tour and tasting, we walk through the old streets of Reims. We stop to spend some time for a guided tour of the Cathedral of Reims. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, the 13th century Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is one of Europe's largest Gothic structures. You’ll be captivated by the unique stained glass windows (including three drawn by Marc Chagall!) and the exceptionally rich statuary – over 2 300 statues including the famous “Smiling Angel”. It is here that King Clovis was baptized around year 498 giving birth to the Kingdom of the Franks; except two, every King of France afterwards was crowned here! Time for lunch: a second Champagne lunch during which you’ll enjoy local specialties along with some more bubbly… After lunch, we head out of town to explore the Montagne de Reims vineyards; nine of the seventeen grand cru villages in Champagne lie on and around the Montagne de Reims. Here, the special terroir gives Champagne much of its character. Then, back to your hotel, to relax before your final dinner in a gourmet restaurant.

Day 4 (Thursdays or Saturdays**): Departure
After a final breakfast, you can catch trains form Epernay station for your further travels – Bon Voyage!

** This tour is available Monday to Thursday or Wednesday to Saturday, starting in April 2012

Please note: you will join a small group of up to 8 people maximum for the guided days. Contact us for private group rates.