MEET THE MAKER CHAMPAGNE WEEKEND

Meet the Maker Champagne Tasting Tour - What's Included

The Grape Escapes Meet the Maker Champagne Tasting Weekend includes two nights’ accommodation in your chosen Reims hotel, plus a full day tour around the Champagne region. For prices, please see our dates and prices page

Meeting The Maker

There is nothing better than going to a Champagne House and meeting the maker to see the passion which he or she puts into their art. Whilst the large Houses show the majesty and grandeur that can be found in Champagne making, we focus this tour on visiting the smaller houses where you can do just this. Your Meet the Maker Champagne Weekend Break will include a visit to a House that concentrates on the vineyards, where you will see the vines in their varying states during the year and learn about the soil and climatic influences on Champagne making. There will be another small House where you will concentrate on the work in the winery – looking at the presses, fermentation and disgorgement process. One of these smaller houses will be a Grand Cru House where the Champagne is produced using grapes from the very best vineyard plots in the region.

Fine Dining

As seasoned Grape Escapes clients will know, in addition to the Champagne, we also consider fine dining to be a prerequisite. Therefore our Meet the Maker Champagne Weekend Break will include a traditional three course lunch as the guests of one of these Champagne Houses. The meal will be accompanied by a range of their Champagnes (and still wines where these are sold separately).

Champagne Making Process

Your Meet the Maker Champagne Break is designed to give you a full insight into the Champagne making process. You will also visit one of the prestigious houses based in the centre of Reims or Epernay. The sight of millions of bottles of Champagne maturing in the underground cellars is truly breath-taking. Some of the cellars are within chalk Crayères which were excavated by the Romans and others were purpose built over the last 150 years. The visit to the prestigious House will include a tour of the cellars and conclude with tastings of their Champagnes.

Tour Guide

As well as learning about the champagne making process, our Meet the Maker Champagne Break includes a local English speaking tour guide who will give you information on the region, its specialities and history.

What's Included

For full details of what is included, please see the description below:

The focus of this tour is to sample the widest variety of Champagnes, created by smaller family–run houses. It will include the opportunity to dine at one of these small Houses as the guests of the estate and taste their Champagnes during lunch. Guests will meet some of the personalities who create the great wines and make our tours so special. Due to the popularity of this tour in 2010, we have added a second Meet the Maker tour to our program. The next Meet the Maker tours will take place from Saturday 30th April – Monday 2nd May 2011 and Saturday 27th – Monday 29th August 2011. The Meet the Maker weekend includes:

Return Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel crossings for a car and two passengers (other options available).
Two nights’ bed and breakfast at your chosen hotel in Reims.
A full day private tour in a luxury coach to include:
Visits to three small, family run, Champagne Houses to include tastings.
A traditional three course lunch as the guest of one of these Houses.
A visit to a large, prestigious Champagne House to include a cellar tour and two tastings.
An English speaking guide for the tour who will provide information on the region and the wines.

Extend Your Stay

If you wish to extend your stay to visit more of the Champagne region, or even head down to Burgundy, we can provide an excellent tour itinerary which includes the very best places to visit. Please call us on 08456 430 860 for details and prices.

Meet the Maker Weekend Upgrades

If you would like to upgrade your Meet the Maker weekend, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange. To complement the Meet the Maker experience, these could be arranged for the afternoon of your arrival or the morning of your departure or we can arrange an extra night’s stay in your preferred hotel. Here are some ideas:

Dom Ruinart Duo: Visit Champagne Ruinart, the oldest Champagne House and the only one with cellars which are classified as a historical monument. Your tour will conclude with a tasting of the House’s two vintage prestige cuvees, Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé.
Half Day Vineyard Experience: You will be given a very special and exclusive tour in the Montagne de Reims. This will include a look at several vineyards, in particular a visit to the guide’s family vineyard. Here, you will be able to spend time learning about the seasonal work in the vineyard, and you will also have the chance to enjoy a unique, hands-on experience tailored to the season of your visit. This tour is not available on Sundays.
Champagne-tasting Lunch or Dinner: Enjoy a three course lunch or dinner in a traditional restaurant in Reims. Each course will be accompanied by a different single varietal Champagne (one glass of Champagne made from just Pinot Meunier, one glass of Champagne made from just Pinot Noir and one glass of Champagne made from just Chardonnay).
Reims City tour: This tour will be led by a registered city guide and will include visits to many of the city’s famous sights. The tour can be on foot or in a mini-coach (as preferred) and can be adapted to suit your individual requirements.

Prices for these options are available upon request.

Reims Hotels, Tour Dates and Prices

The Grape Escapes Meet the Maker Champagne Tasting Weekend includes two nights accommodation in your chosen Reims hotel, plus a full day tour around the Champagne region. For prices, please see our dates and prices page.

Other Champagne Tasting Tours

Please see our Champagne Tasting Tours page for details of the other Champagne Tasting tours we offer.

We also arrange many private Champagne tasting tours for individuals, groups and corporate clients. So, if the above trips are not exactly what you are looking for, please give us a ring on 08456 430 860, or email us at info@grapeescapes.net to arrange your perfect Champagne Tasting Tour