When your friends ask you to taste champagnes in France for their wedding, you say yes and go on a long weekend in Champagne! Not a bad request is it? So, what does a weekend look like in Champagne?
Day One
We drove down to Epernay, the main town in the Champagne region, from The Netherlands (where we live) on Thursday. We arrived after 5 hours on the road and just one stop for petrol! Shortly after check-in, the whole group of 14 had arrived and we went out for dinner and our first glasses of champagne for the weekend! The glass of Charles Mignon champagne was divine.
Day Two
Our first full day in Champagne meant it was tasting day.
Did You Know: All Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne
After a big breakfast at the hotel, we walked along Avenue de Champagne admiring the champagne houses by famous names like Moet & Chandon, Mumm and Venoge. From the tourist office we rented bikes for the day to get between each champagne tasting.
Michel Lenique
Our first champagne tasting was not too far away, about 10-15 minutes bike ride. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain so our group was soaked when we arrived at Michel Lenique winery & caves.
20 Rue du Général de Gaulle, 51530 Pierry, France
Here we tasted 7 glasses of champagne (1/3 glasses) and toured the caves for €10. We rated each wine on which we liked more than the others and noted our favourites. The winners at Michel Lenique were purchased by the wedding couple to taste again later.
On our tour of the vaulted cellars which are carved in chalk and limestone, we learned the process of champagne making. At Michel Lenique they still hand-turn their bottles – which is old-fashioned. The big names in champagne have machines to do that. Though, this kind of thing is what makes visiting the lesser-known champagne caves more interesting!
Denis Frezier
A little tipsy, we rode our bikes to Denis Frezier for our 2nd tasting of the day – however, if you are considering riding a bike through the region, make sure you are ready for steep hills, off-roading, and generally sweating it up! I have asthma and was not expecting this kind of terrain on our journey so I suffered almost the whole day – though there were moments of joy when I had the most stunning views over the champagne fields.
Denis Frezier gave us a really interesting tour. Since we did 3 tours in one day, you’d think all tours would be similar, but we learnt something new and interesting at each champagne house!
50 Rue Gaston Poittevin, 51530 Monthelon, France
Again we voted for our favourite champagnes and the top winners were purchased by our wedding couple.
Godart et Fils
A short bike ride later (thank god!) we were at Champagne Godart et Fils for our last tour and tasting of the day!
5, Avenue du Mont Félix, 51530 Moussy, France
The tour at Godart et Fils was by far the most comprehensive and interesting of the day, and the champagne tasting seemed to last forever! By the end, I couldn’t taste the difference and felt completely drunk! Francois Godart was by far the most passionate wine-maker of the 3 we met throughout our day. He was for sure already drunk on his own drop, but hey – when you make great champagne for a living, would you go a day without drinking it?!
We rode our bikes back to Epernay, and relaxed (read: sobered up) before we headed out for dinner in Epernay at La Gourmande for a stunning 3-course meal.
Day Three
After breakfast, it was time for our blind tasting! The wedding couple arranged for the winning bottles to be blind tasted. The purpose, to find a winning champagne. A lot of us were surprised that on a clear palette we had completely different winners than the day before! Though, I’m glad to say that the winning bottle of champagne was my favourite bottle from the day before, too!
Once the winner was found it was time to split up and visit which wineries we all wanted to buy champagne from! We purchased bottles from all 3 wineries, but our favourite was also the favourite champagne of the weekend from Michel Lenique.
We spent a slow afternoon boating down the river in Epernay whilst drinking the leftover champagne. Not a bad life! Sipping on champagne, from Champagne, in Champagne!
Day Four
On our last day in Champagne, it was only fitting to stuff our faces full of French food. Croissants, baguettes, cakes and macaroons, to be precise. After our French food fix, we were back on the road to The Netherlands – with many champagne bottles in tow!
So, what is there to do in Champagne?
- Taste Champagne
- Buy Champagne
- Rent boats on the river Marne
- Rent bicycles
- Dine on delicious French food
- Tour wineries
Interested in spending a weekend in Champagne? Check these tours out
Or prefer booking your own trip? Let me help!
Make sure you get the cheapest flights via Skyscanner!
Need accommodation? Get your hotel booked on Booking.com! Or more of an Airbnb person?
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Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
One thought on “A Long Weekend In Champagne, France”
Thank you for an interesting blog on Epernay. When I return to the Netherlands I would like to arrange a short stay trip to the champagne region. I will need your help for that.