CHAMPAGNE - THE AREA
Champagne Tasting Tours, Holidays and Trips
Champagne Celebration
The very name is synonymous with celebration; it is the wine of kings and the king of wines. Champagne-Ardenne is a very special place for the connoisseur of fine wines. The British love affair with Champagne continues and as ever, this delightful region remains our most popular destination. Our programme for 2011 reflects this popularity with Flexible tours available throughout the year and almost 40 of our very popular Premium tours on most weekends from February through to December.
So what makes Champagne so popular? In part, it is because the region is so easy to get to. It is situated less than 2½ hour’s drive from Calais making it the UK’s closest premium wine region. It is also now accessible from central Paris in just 45 minutes on the new high speed rail line linking Paris with eastern France. Charles de Gaulle airport is even closer with a journey time to Champagne of 30 minutes on this line.
Other reasons include the picturesque hillsides and valleys covered in vines and forests and the sense of history associated with the region, which abounds in lakes, forests and pretty floral villages. Underneath the chalk and limestone, hundreds of miles of rock have been excavated to provide underground galleries for the housing and maturing of the wine.
Champagne - Reims
Reims, the city of kings and the gateway to Champagne is an ideal location for a Grape Weekend. The city is home to no less than four UNESCO world heritage sites, including one of the finest gothic cathedrals in northern Europe where 25 kings of France were crowned.
Champagne - The Region
The region is rich in possibilities, from cultural tours in the city to walking and cycling among the vines. Alternatively, for a truly unique experience, try abseiling 30 metres into the cellars of a Champagne maker or learning the art of Sabrage - taking the top off your Champagne bottle in exuberant style - with a Sabre.