You don’t have to wait until New Year’s to enjoy a glass of champagne. This is a wine that can be enjoyed all year round, whether it’s at formal dinners or fried poultry picnics. It’s bubbly! It’s usually tasty! You can easily show that you spent more than $20 on someone’s birthday gift!
For those who want to understand better the delicious but often expensive bubbly beverage, they should visit the Champagne region in the northeastern part of France. This is a great destination for both devout Champagne enthusiasts and those who are looking for pastoral European landscapes. It’s also a good place for history buffs, as the land that produces this world-famous beverage was historically one of the bloodiest. You’re uncorking a product of centuries worth of violence, including the Hundred Years’ War and both World Wars. Attila’s Hun battles were also part of the history of the region. Plan a trip to this unshakeable region. It’s also tasty and pairs well with freshly shucked mussels.
Starting in Paris, first things first
Le Bristol Paris is a delightfully Parisian property that will help you adjust to the time difference. The La Prairie Spa, the three Michelin-starred restaurants, and the Bar du Bristol are all under one roof. This year, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation named Bar du Bristol as one of the top hotel bars in Europe. You can start your champagne education at Verjus, a restaurant/wine bar located near the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre, and the Hotel du Bristol. You’ll discover that champagne is available in a wide range of flavors to suit any palate. “You have something for everyone,” says Sara Andersson, sommelier at Verjus. You can drink full-bodied, winey champagne with bubbles that are not as expressive. It feels like a white. The rose I have here is like a lighter red wine to me.
Linger in Champagne
Book a train ticket to Reims in just 45 minutes (with WiFi). Reims is a “Top French City” in France, which means it is one of France’s shining examples of joie-de-vivre. Rent a car at the Reims station (book in advance for automatic transmission rentals). If you don’t have a car, it isn’t easyit’s to travel around the Champagne region. Taxis are also not readily available. You can hire iGoVE to chauffeur you around Champagne. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Reims Cathedral. From 1027 to 1825, French kings were crowned in this cathedral.
Your Champagne home is Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, a 49-room property that opened just this summer. Royal Champagne, located in Champillon, is ideally situated between Reims and Epernay. This is where you will find many of the tours and tastings. You’ll be unable to leave the Relais & Chateaux Hotel, which is so comfortable. The sommelier can help you sample the 200 bottles of champagne at the hotel bar or enjoy the view of rolling vineyards in the Montagne de Reims while relaxing by the infinity pool. Royal Champagne hired Jean-Denis Rieubland to oversee the hotel’s culinary program, which includes Le Royal, a fine-dining restaurant decorated with portraits depicting the most significant women in Napoleon Bonaparte’s life.
