Champagne Central

Up early and off to Gare L'Est for our train to Reims. Still wet but not as cold. Train was very comfortable and very fast - speeds up to 312kms per hour according to the signs.
Bubbles tour met us as planned and we were accompanied by 3 people from California - another great wine region of the world.
What a most fantastic tour. We began in Reims with some magnificent architecture - you wouldn't believe that there were only 16 houses left standing after bombing in the war.

Notre Dame de Reims

Modern stained glass windows

Chagall windows

 On to the Cathedral where the kings of France were crowned. It is was build when fire destroyed a basilica in 1211. It is a stunning building. Some of the original stained glass windows remain but there are also some modern replacements and one set made by Chagall. More information here if you are interested: http://www.reims-cathedral.culture.fr/ 

First champagne of the day

Original monk's stairwell

First champagne house was Taittinger in Reims itself. We had a tour of the cellars beneath where there are still remains of the tunnels monks made centuries ago. Very nice champagne there








Next stop lunch and more tasting at Sacret, a boutique champagne house and B&B in Ay, just outside of Eperny. The lunch was delicious - a pork pate style entree, quail and vegetable main course and strawberry cake for dessert. All accompanied by a different champagne for each course. Perfect.

Dessert

Last stop was at another boutique champagne house: Gardet at Chigny-les-Roses on the way back to Reims. Three different champagnes at this vineyard and a walk through the bottling process that was in full swing.

Tanks at Gardet

I don't think I could live here for too long. Apparently if you tasted 10 different champagnes a day it would take you 20 years to taste all the champagnes this region has to offer.It was a quiet train ride back to Paris