champagne!

[duckyfuzz]

We're off to france in august and whilst away it will be my 40th, so we've booked a night in Reims en route so we can stock up and hopefully have a tour, any recommendations?

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ooh lucky you. you probably need to do an online search re tour of champagne house - some you have to book a month in advance, others a couple of days. some charge loads (but give you free drinks ) others are cheaper.

dh and I went to Veuve Cliquot years ago - mainly because we hadn't planned in advance and they were easy to get into! But the tour was fantastic, really interesting and atmospheric. I seem to remember that one of the houses has a train to take you round their underground tunnels but can't remember which one sorry.

also some are v near Reims, others further out so depends how far you want to drive. so think you will find that you narrow it down to a choice of 3 or 4 on the basis of all the other criteria, regardless of recommendations.

mercier has the train!

thanks goingpostal, train might help entertain the DTs!

Hi,

I've done the tours at Mumm and Moet. the tour at Mumm was much more informative and you got to wander around the cellars. the Moet tour was a bit 'hollywood' and you got shown around on a little train. Both were good though and you got a few tasters afterwards which was noce!

thanks ww, looking forward to it all the more now, but have found we don't seem to be able to book ahead, which is a shame

we went to the Goutorbe champagne house a few years back. amazing champagne and lovely hotel owned by Goutorbe to stay in too. highly recommend it. the Champagne is gorgeous, very Krug-like but without the price tag.

ha ha yes waswondering, go through Ay and then onto Bouzy and Dizy. oh how we laughed (half pissed of course........)

Epernay is where several of the Champagne houses are including Moet. I did several tours a few years ago - even managed to find the exit to one and was able to creep in and get the sample without going on the tour !

Taitinger in Reims was interesting but they didn't give any samples. Castellaine (sp?) in Epernay was very good and they do a gorgeous Champagne liqueur. (I'm not an alcoholic, honestly!!)

You should allow plenty of time for negotiating Reims town centre. We did a stopover there in April and the whole town centre was being dug up to lay tram tracks. Absolute chaos. I would imagine the work is still going on as it looked a VERY long way from being finished.

Lots of tailbacks on the approaching motorways in consequence as well.

Either at the tourist information office by the cathedral, or in the station, you can buy a copy of the Guide Curien de Champagne which gives contact details for all 2000+ producers.

We have been to Busin in Verzenay where their wine is less than ?14 a bottle. Only problem is having to chat after half a bottle at 10am.

Many of the smaller ones you have to make an appt, but the tourist office should do it for you.