MY GUIDE TO THE CHAMPAGNE REGION. I have spent quite a lot of time in the champagne region through the years and have found several favourites that I keep coming back to when in the region as well as new favourites (the region has truly blossomed these last 5 years). I wanted to share my guide to the Champagne region with you, hopefully you will find some new favourites from the list below.
– Book a vintage & blanc de blancs tasting. The big Champagne houses offer this. I booked a vintage tasting with Taittinger which was lovely. You can find all the experiences that Taittinger offer here.
– Explore both Reims & Épernay. Notre-Dame de Reims, the cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was the traditional location for the coronation of the kings of France. A must visit when in Champagne. Épernay is best known for Champagne and the town’s main attraction, Avenue de Champagne is one of the most prestigious streets in the world. The Avenue is filled with Champagne houses and cute garden restaurants. I would recommend you to enjoy a light lunch and some Champagne at The Perrier Jouët garden.
– Eat a lunch in the Veuve Clicquot garden. Followed by a tour of the cellars. I would book the ‘La Grande Dame, a showcase of the Maison’s excellence’ where you get to taste all the prestige cuvées. You can also book a picnic through them which is a lovely activity if you come during the warmer months.
– Private production & cellar tour at Champagne Lanson. I booked a private production tour at Lanson and you get to learn so much about the production of Champagne by seeing everything first hand with your own guide from the house. We finished the tour at Lanson with a vintage tasting, getting to know their cuvées.
– Chalk cellar tour at Ruinart. Visit the chalk cellars and learn more about Chardonnay, Ruinart’s emblematic grape variety. Enjoy a guided tasting of three cuvées. You can discover all the experiences at Ruinart here. They offer an immersive and visual 4 hour gastronomic experience, orchestrated in five acts and sublimated by the Maison’s emblematic cuvées at the cost of €500 per person but a truly unique experience in Champagne.
Where to stay?
Royal Champagne. The epitome of modern luxury in the Champagne region. Are you looking for stunning panoramic views over the fields, fine dining, award winning spa, Royal Champagne is the romantic get away to book.
Château D’Etoges. Are you in the mood to stay at a Château while in the Champagne region, a more classic French experience, Château d’Étoges is the choice for you, the price point is also reasonable. We stayed here during our last visit to the Champagne region and I love the feeling of staying at a classic French château.
Résidence Eisenhower. The Résidence Eisenhower welcomes you to its mansion, passionately restored, to live an immersive experience in the heart of Champagne. The perfect hotel if you want to be based in Reims. I love their classic rooms with a modern touch.
Domaine Les Crayères. This is by far my favourite spot in the Champagne region, Domaine Les Crayères is a stunning hotel, perfect for the romantic get away, it feels like time stood still here in all the best ways. We ate dinner one night at their 2 star Guide Michelin restaurant Le Parc, all the elegance and refinement of French haute gastronomie by Chef Christophe Moret lively. An evening we will never forget.
Château de Courcelles. A family owned property nestled between Paris and Reims. Perfect if you are combining a weekend in Paris with a touch of Champagne. If you are not staying here, make sure to come by for a romantic lunch or dinner at La Table de Courcelles by Chef Massimiliano Sena. The gourmet restaurant, awarded a Michelin star, welcomes you every day of the year. They also offer a beautiful picnic experience which I would love to do in their beautiful park.
Where to eat?
L’Assiette Champenoise. Chef Arnaud Lallement places authenticity and emotion at the heart of his cuisine at this stunning 3 star Guide Michelin, L’Assiette Champenoise subtly combines culinary excellence, refined service and elegant surroundings.
Le Parc – Les Crayères. At the 2-star Le Parc, every detail becomes natural and soothing. Chef Christophe Moret is responsible for the menu, with his lively, generous cuisine. We had dinner here one of our evenings in Champagne and it was a beautiful and delicious experience.
La Cave à Champagne. Created in 1993 by Chef Bernard Ocio. La Cave à Champagne is the perfect place to discover the flavours of the Champagne-Ardenne region, in a friendly and warm atmosphere. For several years, the chef has cultivated a passion for terroir cuisine, using local and fresh ingredients to create tasty and authentic dishes.
Le Millenaire. Chef Benjamin Andreux pays homage to the four seasons while drawing inspiration from the very heart of Provence (his home region) and Champagne. His kitchen team unveils contemporary, striking, and bold flavour combinations.
Le Bellevue. Perched with a 180-degree panorama overlooking the valley of Epernay and the Marne Valley, Le Bellevue restaurant offers a breathtaking view. This chic brasserie, always buzzing with activity, is adorned with a stunning display of a thousand crystal pendants suspended from the ceiling, transforming into radiant droplets of light as night falls.
