PRESTIGE CHAMPAGNE WEEKEND
Prestige Champagne Tasting Tour - What's Included
The Grape Escapes Prestige 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
Champagne Making Process
Your Prestige Champagne Tour is designed to give you a full insight into the Champagne making process. You will 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 two tastings of their Champagnes.
Meeting The Maker
Whilst the large Houses show the majesty and grandeur that can be found in Champagne making, there is nothing better than meeting the maker and seeing the passion which he or she puts into their art. We therefore focus our tours on visiting the smaller Houses where you can do just this. Your Prestige Champagne Weekend Tour 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 Prestige Champagne Weekend Tour will include a gourmet four course lunch at a top local restaurant including accompanying Champagne and wines.
Tour Guide
As well as learning about the champagne making process, our Prestige Champagne Tour includes a local English speaking tour guide who will give you information on the region, its specialities and history.
What's Included
Since our first Champagne tour in 2005, we have been delighted to offer our clients this compact trip as the ideal introduction to wine tours with Grape Escapes. Our Prestige Champagne weekend has been the benchmark against which all subsequent Grape Escapes tours have been measured. This tour offers the perfect blend of personal visits as the guests of small estates, a chance to see the scale and majesty of one of the large, prestigious estates and of course, a chance to sample the Grape Escapes VIP experience with gourmet dining, executive transport and a friendly, knowledgeable guide throughout.
- Return Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel crossing for a car and two passengers (other options available).
- Two nights’ bed and breakfast at your chosen hotel in the city of Reims.
- A full day private coach tour in a luxury coach on the Saturday (Sunday on Bank Holiday weekends) to include:
- A visit to a small, family-run producer of Grand Cru Champagnes for a full tour of the fascinating Champagne making process from vine to bottle and at least three tastings, including vintage Champagne
- A gourmet four course lunch at a premium local restaurant including accompanying Champagne and wines.
- A visit to a second smaller producer in another Champagne village for a shorter tour and several tastings of a different style of Champagne to those tasted in the morning.
- A visit to a large, prestigious Champagne house (e.g. Moët & Chandon, Ruinart, Pommery etc.) including a tour of their cellars 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.
Prestige Weekend Upgrades
If you would like to upgrade your Prestige weekend, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange. To complement the Prestige 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:
- VIP Dom Perignon Tour: For those who wish to sample the most famous of all Champagnes in its home, we can arrange a private tour of seldom-visited areas of the Moët and Chandon cellars. The tour concludes with a flute of Dom Perignon in a private reception room at the Moët Mansion. You will need to take a short train ride from Reims to Epernay for this visit.
- Grande Dame Tour: If the old widow (Veuve Clicquot) is your favourite Champagne, then we can arrange a tour of Veuve Clicquot followed by a tasting of their yellow label and their prestige cuvee. This visit is not available on Sundays or Mondays.
- 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 Prestige 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