Food & Champagne Experience from Epernay (Private tour)

Overview

Playful workshop to discover the different aromas of Champagne and its 3 emblematic grape varieties : Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay. 15 commented tastings (9 Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru plus the famous wines, alcohols and aperitives of the region) in gastronomic pairings with local dishes and products are planned in order to discover the gourmet secrets of the Champagne region. During the visit of 4 authentic Champagne places selected for you, more than 15 flavors will awaken your taste buds ! Commented passage in the famous "Avenue de Champagne" of Epernay, called “the most expensive Avenue in the world” with its 200 million bottles in the cellars. Discover the famous Grand Cru and Premier Cru villages and vineyards around Epernay in the historic hillsides of the Marne Valley listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the Côte des Blancs. Visits to 3 families of independent Champagne winegrowers/producers with explanation of the Champagne making process.

Itinerary

1. Mareuil-sur-Ay

   The workshop, experiences, tastings and visits are planned in famous vineyards and villages typical of Champagne around Epernay the Capital of Champagne : Aÿ-Champagne, famous for its Pinot Noir Grand Cru and its prestigious Houses such as Bollinger and Deutz, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ where Billecart-Salmon, Philipponnat are located, Oger in the Côte des Blancs and Monthelon. In order to better understand all the gourmet pairings selected for you during this day, you'll start at a producer with a playful workshop to discover the aromas of Champagne and then rediscover them during the tasting of different Champagnes. If you successfully pass the olfactory and taste test, we'll give you a Champagne knowledge certificate! You will taste during the day 9 Grand Cru/Premier Cru Champagnes blended or single varietals Champagne as Blanc de blancs, Blanc de noirs and discover non-dosed natural Champagnes, extra brut, brut, dry, rosé, from very old vines, vintages, single plots or aged in oak barrels.

   · 1 h 15 min

2. Aÿ-Champagne

   During the tour, in addition to Champagnes, you'll discover the 3 famous Champagne alcohols : several Ratafias will be tasted but also Fine de la Marne and Marc de Champagne from the Goyard Distillery. Ratafia is a sweet wine made from the same grape varieties as Champagne. A treasure that is still relatively unknown outside of the Champagne region because it is not widely exported, it offers an unrivalled range of flavours and aromas that you will discover with us. You'll be a fan for sure! Fine and Marc are Champagne brandies that are very popular as digestives. All the tastings will be commented and have been selected in harmony with typical dishes. In Ay, you'll also discover in a Champagne bar and food the Coteaux-Champenois, famous Champagne wine with a Controlled Designation of Origin (CDO) which can be red, white or rosé. The Coteaux-Champenois will accompany foie gras and snails for the more adventurous, otherwise sea bass rillettes with truffle, scallops or white pudding.

   · 1 h

3. Aÿ-Champagne

   In the famous village and vineyard Grand Cru of Aÿ-Champagne,, a stop is also planned in the heart of the vineyard to understand the work of the vine, the grape varieties, this exceptional terroir and sustainable viticulture. The village of Aÿ was the main center of the Champagne industry in the 16th century. The kings of France had their own wine presses here and the wines of Champagne used to be called “Wines of Aÿ”. The vineyard predominantly planted with Pinot Noir is classified as Grand Cru at the highest level of the Champagne Appellation.

   · 45 min

4. Monthelon

   Lunch is then planned at a winemaker's where you will taste his Grand Cru and Premier Cru Champagnes, as well as different Ratafias (including a unique one in the world produced from one of the forgotten grape varieties of Champagne) paired with a mixed platter of charcuterie and cheeses with specialties of the region such as Jambon de Reims, the exceptional local cheeses such as Chaource and Langres but also cured ham, duck rillettes with Ratafia, duck breast, accompanied of course by the unmissable traditional French baguette. The sweet touch will be brought by a chocolate filled with ratafia and a dessert based on a famous sweet culinary specialty of the region: the Biscuit Rose of Reims.

   · 1 h 30 min

5. Avize

   In the morning during this gourmet tour, you will discover the Marne Valley and its historic hillsides listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO where Champagne was born. In the afternoon, on the road to the third winegrower, we will drive through the famous Côte des Blancs, kingdom of the Chardonnay Grand Cru of Champagne ant its famous villages Cramant and Avize.

   · 15 min

6. Oger

   During the visit to this third family of Champagne independent producers for several generations in one of the villages most renowned for its Chardonnay Grand Cru, we will talk again about the Champagne making process during a visit to the press, winery and cellar. Here, at snack time, you will taste other Grand Cru Champagnes accompanied by Biscuits roses of Reims from the Biscuiterie Fossier in the original recipe dating from 1756 and in the form of a crunchy macaroon. The day will end with a typical French surprise discovery, trust us, you will love it !

   · 1 h 30 min

7. Avenue de Champagne

   A commented passage is also planned in the very famous "Avenue de Champagne" in Epernay, the capital of the Champagne vineyards, where the superb properties and production buildings of the Champagne Houses Moët & Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger, etc. are located.

   · Non-stop passage

Pickup

Pickup or meet at the departure point.

Viator gives you a non exhaustive list of possible pick ups, if your accommodation is not there, please check that your place is in the perimeter of 6kms (3.7 miles) around Epernay. If it is further in distance, we will not be able to pick you up at this place. In case of any doubt, you can contact us before to book. If you want a pick up in Reims or in the surrounding villages another tour on sale allows it. For your information Reims is 40 min. drive from Epernay. Depending on the weather/season and the number of people in your group, we will choose the most suitable vehicle from our fleet of different cars : Electric E-Mehari Jeep car, Premium Van and Minivan. Our Electric red E-Mehari car is a crossover, if you have difficulty getting into slightly raised vehicles tell us.

How to use your ticket

ENGLISH If you have any problems, please always contact the guide on the number we have given you by message. If you wish to contact him/her on the day of your visit, please use Whatsapp. Please note that the number on this voucher is not that of the guide, but that of the company manager : - Isabelle (owner of the tour company) : +33 6 20 33 21 44 - Office number : +33 6 11 67 69 32 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) FRANCAIS En cas de problème, merci de toujours joindre le numéro du guide que nous vous avons communiqué. Si vous souhaitez le/la contacter le jour de votre visite, merci d'utiliser de préférence Whatsapp. Attention, le numéro sur ce voucher n'est pas celui du guide, mais celui de la gérante de l'entreprise: - Isabelle (gérante) : +33 6 20 33 21 44 - Téléphone Bureau : +33 6 11 67 69 32 (Lundi au samedi, de 9h à 17h)

Meeting point

What to know before you go

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• From 1 days before : 100% refunded
• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

Reviews

Product code: 124154P10

Activity offered by Aÿ-Champagne Experience via Viator.