#1 - PRESSORIA
Built at the foot of the historic hillsides of Aÿ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sensory interpretation center for Champagne wines lets you discover all the secrets of the Wine of Kings through the prism of poetry, emotion and wonder.
Room after room, you'll explore every facet of the work of the vine and the wine, thanks to innovative, interactive and entertaining technological devices.
Special mention must be made of the interactive roots room, the Jardin des Cépages and the last animation, which invites you to dive inside a flute and create your own bubbles just by touching the walls... At the end of the tour, a commented tasting of two Champagnes is offered on a 700 m² panoramic terrace offering a breathtaking view of the vineyard.
#2 - A VISIT TO A WINEMAKER, COOP OR HOUSE?
With over 16,200 winemakers, 130 Maisons and 170 Coopératives in Champagne, you'll be spoilt for choice. If you have the time, we recommend you do all three ;)
- In the company of a guide, you'll explore several kilometers of underground galleries and discover the thousands of bottles that lie dormant. Keep your eyes peeled for the history, craftsmanship, natural chalk pits, light effects and works of art that enchant some of these extraordinary buildings.
- A visit to a cooperative will quickly show you that cooperative Champagnes are second to none. During this visit on a human scale, you'll discover the values and principles that govern this model: sharing and transmission. At harvest time, cooperative growers hand over their grapes to the cooperative. The cooperative is responsible for pressing the harvest, vinifying the musts and making the blends. Two options are then open to cooperative harvesters: either the bottles are sold under the name of the cooperative or the brand name it has created. Alternatively, the wine is returned to the cooperative after secondary fermentation in the bottle, in which case it is the cooperative's responsibility to market the wine under its own name. In this respect, cooperatives are halfway between winemakers and wineries.
- At a vigneron elaborateur, the emphasis is on proximity and tailor-made visits by a member of the team or by the vigneron himself, who will always be delighted to welcome you and show you the different facets of his trade. Given your enthusiasm, it's a safe bet that he'll let you taste his entire range!
#3 - AN UNUSUAL RIDE THROUGH THE VINEYARDS
In a solex, a double-decker bus, an electric bike, a scooter, a tuk tuk, a vintage van or a vintage vehicle, you can explore the different wine-growing areas of the Champagne region (Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, Côte des Bar, Vallée de la Marne, Coteaux du Vitryat, Côte de Sézanne, Vallée de l'Ardre and Massif de Saint-Thierry). Don't hesitate to take your picnic with you for lunch at one of the many emblematic spots in the Cité des Bulles, such as the Belvédère Pierre Cheval in Epernay or the vineyard gardens in Chouilly and Cramant.
#4 - AN EVENING IN A WINE BAR
Before returning to your gîte, hotel, longère, airbnb apartment, maison d'hôte or unusual accommodation, we recommend a detour to one of the many Champagne bars in the region.
These cozy places, with their fine wine lists, tapas and platters of mature cheeses, will introduce you to the art of living so dear to the hearts of the locals. You'll also have the chance to sample other Champagne nectars such as Bouzy Rouge, Rosé des Riceys, Coteaux Champenois, Ratafia, Fine champenoise, Marne champenoise and even organic gin made from Champagne grape residues.)
As you'll see, Champagne is definitely a bubble to live in, cheers!
