When in Champagne...

There’s a lot to do in this French region that lends its name to the wine synonymous with celebration all over the world.

Did you know that authentic champagne comes only from the Champagne region in France? The region is home to prestigious brands and their captivating cellars, succulent gastronomy, a rich cultural heritage, and, of course, its eponymous nectar. Here is our essential checklist of spirited experiences in Champagne.

VINEYARD VISITS

Bubbly lovers can choose from five exciting circuits on the Champagne Tourist Route, all of which guarantee an up close and personal discovery of the drink through vineyards, authentic champagne villages, and encounters with wine-growers who reveal a few, if not all, secrets of champagne making. The town of Épernay invites you to discover its vineyards differently. Choose from funky tuk-tuk rides to vintage 2CV Citroëns. Hop aboard a bus that has you participating in a chocolate making workshop or attending a wine tasting all in the heart of verdant vineyards.

GOING UNDERGROUND

If Reims’s cultural discoveries of its cathedral and emblematic monuments leave you parched, it’s time to hit the cellars. Take a tour of renowned champagne brands, including Pommery, Ruinart, G.H. Mumm, and Taittinger, for a true tasting experience. Local tip: Dip Reims’s famous speciality, the pink biscuit, in your flute of champagne to enjoy a mélange of flavours. On Épernay’s Avenue of Champagne, discover global brands such as Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Mercier, and De Castellane rubbing shoulders with artisanal brands of equal repute such as Michel Gonet.

FOR OUR FOODIES

Reims invites you to try its local ham. Nutmeg, parsley and shallots are added to the ham, which is then cooked in stock and seasoned with breadcrumbs. You will find it being sold in a large rectangular block or small cylindrical cones. It pairs well with salad and can also be enjoyed as an apéritif—just the way the locals like it. Chocolate lovers can gorge on Bouchons de Champagne’s delectable dark chocolates, filled with liqueur and moulded in the form of champagne corks. We dare you to stop at one! There are also truffles that grow in the region and find their way to your plate. Truffles from Champagne are best used in their raw state to preserve their delicate hazelnut flavour. Sample local cheese in the form of Chaource, a cow’s milk cheese that has a delicious creamy and slightly crumbly texture. It makes a good pairing partner with champagne or even the delicate white wine Chablis.

Pair cultural discoveries of Reims with tastings of famous champagne brands.

Clockwise from left: Take a tuk-tuk ride of Épernay’s vineyards; in Reims, dip the region’s famous pink biscuit in your flute; there are five exciting circuits on the Champagne Tourist Route.