Epernay - Champagne Houses
Discussion
Rightyo PHers
Off to France for a long weekend, plan on coming back via Epernay - Done Moet and a couple of the larger houses.
Any recommendations for some of those less well known houses that are worth a visit - ideally with Food as we'd like to combine a nice long lunch into the visit as well.
TIA
Hughesie
Off to France for a long weekend, plan on coming back via Epernay - Done Moet and a couple of the larger houses.
Any recommendations for some of those less well known houses that are worth a visit - ideally with Food as we'd like to combine a nice long lunch into the visit as well.
TIA
Hughesie
marshalla said:
You'll get an excellent lunch and a very nice "house" champagne at Chateau d'Etoges. Unfortunately, I don't think they do tours.
I don't think they do, but it's a nice place to stay (though avoid allowing your clothes to end up on the roof of the building next to the moat - it's embarrassing asking for them to be retrieved in poor French!).In terms of champagne houses to visit, I would recommend...
- Ruinart. Wasn't that well known in this country a while back, but is nice stuff IMO and not that stupidly priced.
- Pommery. Not really a fan of the drink but the tour was interesting.
- Veuve Clicquot. Because you'll definitely have heard of it etc. And it tastes OK.
You could also try contacting to see if you can get into Krug.
Visit Gimonnet in Cuis. Fantastic drop for the money. It's a small operation though.
http://www.champagne-gimonnet.com/
http://www.champagne-gimonnet.com/
Apt thread timing
Just returned from Champagne Region :
Chateau d'etoges is where we stayed
Borell Lucas is next to the chateau and not bad at the price point and another 2 located in this village
Champagne JM Gobillard et Fils - Hautvillers - Doms' resting place
Moet - had some good deals on vintage tipples
My recommendation is following the champagne region signs and to check to see if it is indeed open - if the gates are open then they are open for business
All the quality is fantastic and prices even better I returned with 30 bottles
Just returned from Champagne Region :
Chateau d'etoges is where we stayed
Borell Lucas is next to the chateau and not bad at the price point and another 2 located in this village
Champagne JM Gobillard et Fils - Hautvillers - Doms' resting place
Moet - had some good deals on vintage tipples
My recommendation is following the champagne region signs and to check to see if it is indeed open - if the gates are open then they are open for business
All the quality is fantastic and prices even better I returned with 30 bottles
Bumping this as I'm currently planning a weekend away for the wife later this summer.
I'd started looking at Epernay, but am now thinking of Reims as Ruinart and Mumm are our fizz of choice. I've found a very nice little place near the Cathedral which seems like it will put everything in walking distance.
Any tours better than others?
Do they tend to result in the consumption of alcohol? (Worried about staying somewhere that means we need to drive everywhere!)
Do people think that if we set off early Friday & arrive Friday lunchtime we will have enough time? Was thinking something like
- Friday pm lunch then cellar tour
- Sat cathedral, lunch, cellar or two
- Sun, cellar, lunch, Reims circuit, home!
I'd started looking at Epernay, but am now thinking of Reims as Ruinart and Mumm are our fizz of choice. I've found a very nice little place near the Cathedral which seems like it will put everything in walking distance.
Any tours better than others?
Do they tend to result in the consumption of alcohol? (Worried about staying somewhere that means we need to drive everywhere!)
Do people think that if we set off early Friday & arrive Friday lunchtime we will have enough time? Was thinking something like
- Friday pm lunch then cellar tour
- Sat cathedral, lunch, cellar or two
- Sun, cellar, lunch, Reims circuit, home!
Personally I'd stay in one of the many chateaux around the area. There are some nice drives and parking's not a problem in Reims/at the champagne houses. Some of the chateaux also have nice restaurants so if you want to imbibe you can do it back at the hotel.
You don't need to drink too much at the actual champagne house. Buy some of their produce, nip to the shops for pate, bread and cheese and eat in the countryside with a nice bottle and some fresh air
You don't need to drink too much at the actual champagne house. Buy some of their produce, nip to the shops for pate, bread and cheese and eat in the countryside with a nice bottle and some fresh air
A long, long time ago my wife and I went to Epernay to buy the champagne for our wedding.
We stayed at the Royal Champagne Hotel in Champillon, which was excellent. However I've just looked at their website and they are closed for refurbishment until next year so it is pointless recommending it.
We did the Mercier champagne tour, mainly because it was the first champagne house we found. At the time (2004) you could do the "standard economy tour" which was five euros or the "deluxe premium tour" which was six euros. As I was trying to impress my future wife I took the deluxe option.
They had a miniature train to take you through the cellars, regardless of whether you spent five or six euros. However, at the end of the tour our guide said something along the lines of "those of you who have paid five euros can go into the corner for a small plastic beaker of our ordinary champagne before you leave. Those who have paid for the deluxe ticket may follow me to the luxury tasting room to try a selection of our premium champagnes."
We then asked the tour guide about buying 60 bottles of champagne, and she said we had permission to move our car from the lower car park to the deluxe upper car park in order to make loading the champagne easier, which I did.
When the tour guide accompanied the man with our trolley load of champagne to the premium car park she said to me "I told you to bring your car to this car park". When I told her I did, she pointed to the one car in the car park (my Fiat Uno) and said "but that cannot be yours. Your champagne is worth more than your car."
We stayed at the Royal Champagne Hotel in Champillon, which was excellent. However I've just looked at their website and they are closed for refurbishment until next year so it is pointless recommending it.
We did the Mercier champagne tour, mainly because it was the first champagne house we found. At the time (2004) you could do the "standard economy tour" which was five euros or the "deluxe premium tour" which was six euros. As I was trying to impress my future wife I took the deluxe option.
They had a miniature train to take you through the cellars, regardless of whether you spent five or six euros. However, at the end of the tour our guide said something along the lines of "those of you who have paid five euros can go into the corner for a small plastic beaker of our ordinary champagne before you leave. Those who have paid for the deluxe ticket may follow me to the luxury tasting room to try a selection of our premium champagnes."
We then asked the tour guide about buying 60 bottles of champagne, and she said we had permission to move our car from the lower car park to the deluxe upper car park in order to make loading the champagne easier, which I did.
When the tour guide accompanied the man with our trolley load of champagne to the premium car park she said to me "I told you to bring your car to this car park". When I told her I did, she pointed to the one car in the car park (my Fiat Uno) and said "but that cannot be yours. Your champagne is worth more than your car."
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