Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Because it's widely exported to the US, Veuve Clicquot is inundated with American trav-
elers.Reservations arerequiredandfillupthreeweeksinadvance,sobookearly(easyvia
email) before you start your trip. The basic
cave
visit includes a two-flute tasting; other
options add on a glass of “La Grande Dame” or pair tastings with cheese.
Cost and Hours:
€20forone-hourtourand30-minutetasting,€35forone-hourtour
and “La Grande Dame” Champagne tasting; mid-March-mid-Nov Tue-Sat 10:00-12:30 &
13:30-17:30, closed Sun-Mon and rest of year; 1 Place des Droits de l'Homme, tel. 03 26
89 53 90,
www.veuve-clicquot.com
,
visitscenter@veuve-clicquot.fr
.
Drivers can joyride through the pretty Montagne de Reims area just south of Reims and
experience the chalky soil and rolling hills of vines that produce Champagne's prestigious
wines. At the Reims TI, ask for maps of the Route de la Champagne and
The Discovery
Guide
fortheMarneregion.Roadsarewell-marked:brown
RouteTouristiquedelaCham-
pagne
signsleadalongmuchofourrouteandtakeyoutosomegreatviewpoints.Theonly
rail-accessible destination along this route is Epernay.
There are thousands of small-scale producers of Champagne in these vil-
lages—unknown outside France and producing fine-quality Champagne without the high
costs associated with big brand-name houses in Reims and Epernay. These less-famous
producersharvest thegrapesthemselves andmake wineonlyfromtheir owngrapes(iden-
tified as “
récoltant manipulant”
or just “
RM”
on bottles and elsewhere). It takes a little
work to find them, and you must call ahead if you want to tour a cellar rather than just
taste, but this usually pays off with a more intimate, rewarding cultural experience. Ask
your hotelier or a TI for help, or check in with Les Vignerons Indepéndents de Cham-
pagne (Independent Winemakers of Champagne, open-house events and tastings Sat-Sun
only April-Oct, usually 3-4 different wineries a day, tel. 03 26 59 55 22,
www.vignerons-
Pop Pop, Fizz Fizz
Like perfume and cognac, Champagne is synonymous with good living and good
form in France. When invited to a French home for dinner, your aperitif choice al-
ways includes Champagne, as it is the proper way to start an evening with friends.
Thoughmanywine-growingregionsinFranceproducesparklingwines(calledCré-
