Having recently visited the Champagne region, I cannot recommend a trip to this iconic part of France highly enough. Reims provides the perfect base. Just 45 minutes from Paris by high-speed train, the city combines Gothic charm with Baroque grandeur, offering a fascinating blend of history, culture, and hidden corners waiting to be explored.
Gastronomy is important here, with many fine dining options as well as more simple French Brasseries, offering traditional cuisine and outdoor seating which is perfect to watch the world go by. Reims is also home to several excellent museums, and one of the most memorable is the lesser-known Musée de la Reddition where its visitors can step into the very room where Germany’s surrender was signed in May 1945, bringing the Second World War in Europe to an end.
After settling into Reims, a full day tour of the surrounding Champagne region is an absolute must. Incorporating a visit to a Grande Marque, such as Veuve Clicquot, with some smaller family run producers is an excellent introduction to the history, science and variety of this legendary drink.I chose to visit Veuve Clicquot, which offered a truly grand introduction to the prestige and heritage of Champagne. As you descend into the historic cellars, you immediately sense the pride and tradition that run through the house and its production. The guided tour introduces you to the story of Madame Clicquot, the traditions the house is credited with pioneering, and how it grew from a small family-run operation into one of the world’s most recognisable Champagne names. Tastings in the cellars are generous and beautifully presented; if you are especially lucky, the team may even put on a show and open a Jeroboam, as they did for us.
From there, we continued into the countryside to visit smaller, family-run growers while learning more about the region and its winemaking process along the way. These visits offer a rare chance to see production from vineyard to bottle, and to hear how each producer uses their own methods and traditions to create a distinctive style. The tastings are both varied and plentiful, and you are almost certain to finish the day having discovered a new favourite cuvée – or even a new favourite house.
While Reims may be considered the capital of the region, a day in Épernay offers an equally special experience. After spending the morning exploring the Champagne and Regional Archaeology Museum at Château Perrier, a sunny afternoon strolling along the famous Avenue de Champagne is the perfect way to unwind. Lined with some of the region's most celebrated houses, it is difficult to resist stopping for a tasting or two along the way.
With its rich history, beautiful landscapes, delicious cuisine, and, of course, world-famous Champagne houses, each proud of its own unique heritage and product, I do believe that everyone must visit Champagne at least once.
