Champagne Houses

[Tumbler]

Having visited Reims twice before and visited many of the larger houses, we are keen to take in a couple of the smaller ones on our next visit, does anyone have any recommendations as despite an extensive search or the web I don't seem to be able to find what I'm looking for.

[petemurphy]

dont know if you can visit them but this stuff is lush and a family run place:

www.rclemaire.co.uk

[PaulHogan]

We stayed in Epernay after the Classic Le Mans this year. The tourist information there has info on most of the Champagne houses from the tiny drop in on spec places (cash only) to the biggies on Epernay high street (book in advance we take plastic). There is also information on the Champagne trail which wanders round the local countryside past dozens, if not hundreds, of Champagne houses. Although we had two fabulous evening meals in Epernay at Michelin starred restaurants we thought that if we ever that way again we'd stay in/close by Chalons en Champagne.

[apotek]

We stayed in the house where Chandon lived when he met and married Moets daughter Le Clos Raymi,and in the main street is a resturaunt where each item on the menu is cooked in some way with champagne,both excellent

[.Mark]

Drop Mrs_T a PM, she organises a yearly run to Champagne for the Surrey TVRCC, I'm sure she'd she some info with you.

[jeremyc]

Another vote for Epernay.

Check out the four? or so colour-coded champagne driving routes (details from the Tourist Information Office in the centre of the town) - you will pass enough champagne houses to quench even your desires.

If you want somewhere to stay in town with an excellent restaurant try here: http://www.lesberceaux.com/

ETA

Edited by jeremyc on Tuesday 28th September 21:05

[.Mark]

Hello Jeremy

Glad to see the BTaP badge under your name, hope to catch up mate

[jeremyc]

.Mark said:

Hello Jeremy

Glad to see the BTaP badge under your name, hope to catch up mate

Absolutely.

[Tumbler]

Thanks everyone, already have a little Chambre D'hote booked inbetween Reims and Epernay and lunch booked here http://www.ila-chateau.com/fere/


I will attempt to discover a few more lesser known brands of Champagne during my visit

[ChrisnChris]

We go here whenever we can.....not often enough.
Last time we were there we took some pics of one of their grandsons with the Tuscan & said we would email them when we got back.

My BIL was in the area a couple of weeks later so we got the pics printed & asked him to pass them on...he did...& brought back 3 bottles for us from Mme Olivier for our troubles

Not the best in the world but we rate it highly. Reasonably priced.

Nice chocolatier in Dormans, just down the road, turn right out of Olivier carry on over the bridge, left into town, park in the town square where the chocolatier is.

http://www.champagne-veuve-olivier.com/

[thehawk]

Did you do Pommery? Probably the best tour around.

[andy_s]

I did the vendange in the mid-eighties and stayed out in Ay, all our grapes (small vineyard) went to Pol Roger and I did the tour then, iirc it was just off the high street.

Happy memories of cognac and champagne with cassecroute and learning my first real French: 'Mal au dos!'.