Champagne Wine Tours

Enjoy a casual a la carte lunch at Brasserie Flo, one of our favorite informal eateries in the region with its high ceilings, Belle Époque paintings, mirrored walls, and Moroccan palms. Run by local chef David Mathieu, they are especially noted for their fish and seafood, and you might like to try their magnificent shellfish platter. Continue with delicious dishes like roast duck with scallops or free-range capon supreme.

After lunch, take in a digestive walk around historic Reims, including a visit to the outstanding 12th-century Gothic Cathedral where Charles VII was crowned under Joan of Arc. Before heading to your plush hotel this evening, you will tour one last house, the beautiful Pommery property. Their caves are some of the most extensive and fascinating in Champagne to visit, and you will enjoy a private tour with a tasting of three styles. Freshen up and relax at the hotel for a few hours before dinner, which will be a gastronomic feast at their Two Michelin starred gourmet restaurant. The bar here serves Krug by the glass if you feel like a decadent nightcap.

Lunch is next at L’Abbaye in Hautvillers, named of course after the nearby abbey where Dom Pérignon perfected the champagne method (his tomb lies here in the abbey as well and is a bit of a wine lover’s pilgrimage). This landmark restaurant serves delicious local fare, and you can order a la carte trying specialties like their ham hock terrine, creamy scallops served Champagne style with morels and asparagus, and hearty casserole dishes. After lunch, stretch your legs and enjoy a walk around picturesque Hautvillers. This darling hamlet is set right in the Montagne de Reims nature reserve, and you are surrounded by an expanse of vines. The winding, narrow streets lined with colorful timber façades and beautiful iron shop signs. Before heading back to the hotel this afternoon, we suggest a visit to Au 36 on the famous rue Dom Pérignon, a trendy wine bar, and shop, well worth a visit. If the weather is pleasant, sit on the terrace, enjoy “une coupe” and count your blessings.

Dinner tonight is at the beautiful Two Michelin starred Le Parc Les Crayères in Reims. The whimsical menu created by Philippe Mille, and the setting is supremely elegant, so tonight, you can get dressed up. Enjoy the chef’s taster with wine pairings, and your driver will take you back to your country house after a fabulous meal; this is the gourmet highlight of the trip.

Medieval Troyes is next, just over an hour’s journey through a patchwork of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier planted vineyards. Whose romantic, the historic center is shaped like a champagne cork! Fairy Tale Troyes has a heritage of stained glass, and you will find sublime Gothic churches here, 16th-century courtyards, a maze of cobblestone alleyways, and a small but important art museum. The town is also known for its andouillette sausages. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own, enjoying the fabulous shops, gardens, and architectural patrimony.

Tonight you sleep in a boutique; five-star hotel converted convent in the heart of the old town that once pertained to the Knights of Malta. Your hotel has a dreamy little pool where you can take a dip before dinner. Dinner tonight is laid back and charming at the enchanting Le Valentino, set in a medieval courtyard.

As Charles Dickens famously quoted- “Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life.” Why not add some elegance to your next vacation?