Food & Champagne Experience from Epernay (Private tour)
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.
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.
Options
Food & Champagne Experience
Pickup included
What's included in Food & Champagne Experience from Epernay (Private tour)
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
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.
Ay-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.
Ay-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.
Inclusions
- 15 commented tastings: 9 Champagnes Grand Cru/1st Cru plus famous local wine, alcohols and aperitifs
- Private visits, workshops, experiences, tastings and food/Champagne pairing included
- Pick up and drop off is in Epernay or in the perimeter of 6kms (3.7 miles) around Epernay
- Private transportation
- Passionate local private guide/chauffeur
- Discovery of several Ratafias, Fine de la Marne, Marc de Champagne and Coteaux-Champenois
- Visits to 3 family estates of Champagne Grand Cru and Premier Cru producers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Public transportation options are available nearby
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You can choose to be picked up from a list of locations, or alternatively, have the choice to make your own way to the meeting points
Please arrive at the pick up point 5 minutes before departure time.
Additional Information
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.
Meeting / End Points
- In front of the Epernay train station (near city center)
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
ENGLISH Contacts to join in case of problems via call or WhatsApp : - 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)
