MINI GUIDE
Wines of Champagne
COMPILED BY LORNA PARKES, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM KERY CHRISTIANI. PHOTOGRAPHS: AFRICA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK, SYLVAIN SONNET/GETTY, ANN TAYLOR-HUGHES/GETTYChampagne essentials The know-how
FURTHER READING
Lonely Planet’s
France
(US$24.99)
includes a chapter
on the
Champagne
region and its touring routes,
which can also be downloaded
individually (US$4.95) at
lonelyplanet.com; France’s
Best Trips (US$24.99) includes
a Champagne itinerary as one
of its 39 regional drives. Wine
Travel Guides offers a free,
in-depth online guide to the
Champagne region
(winetravelguides.com).
Noel Barber’s lightweight war
drama, A Farewell to France
(US$4; Coronet), about rural
life on a Champagne
vineyard in the
1930s–40s.CHAMPAGNE
SAVOIR-FAIRE
Blanc de Blancs Champagne
made using only chardonnay
grapes. Fresh and elegant with
a bouquet reminiscent of fruits
such as pear and plum.
Blanc de Noirs A full-bodied,
deep golden champagne made
solely with black grapes (pinot
noir or pinot meunier). Often
rich and refined, with great
complexity and a long finish.
Rosé Pink champagne (mostly
served as an aperitif), with a
fresh character and summer-
fruit flavours. Made by adding
a small percentage of red pinot
noir to white champagne.
Prestige Cuvée Usually made
with grapes from top-classed
grand cru vineyards, and priced
and bottled accordingly.
Millésimé Vintage champagne
produced from a single crop
during an exceptional year.
Most champagne is non-vintage.TRANSPORT
There are no direct flights to the
Champagne region, but it’s
around 2½–3 hours’ drive from
Calais and is easily reached from
Paris and its airports. Trains run
from Paris Gare de L’Est to Reims
in less than an hour (from US$31
rtn; uk.voyages-sncf.com) and to
Épernay in about 1½ hours
(US$47). Direct trains also run
between these two regional hub
towns (US$15; 22–42 minutes).
The best way to get to Troyes is
by bus from Reims. To explore
the countryside and wine-
growing villages you’ll need a car:
Hertz has a base in Reims and
Europcar is in Épernay.One of 20 classically decorated
guestrooms in Les CrayèresCourses Tours Eating SleepingWHERE TO STAY
Hôtel Les Comtes de
Champagne is ensconced in a trio
of pastel-hued 16th-century
half-timbered houses in Troyes, in
the south of the region. Its bright
courtyard lobby and flower boxes
give it a lovely feel, and there’s a
12th-century cellar (comtesdechampagne.com; 54–56 Rue de
la Monnaie; from US$99).
Sitting handsomely beside the
Avenue de Champagne in
Épernay in grounds with an
outdoor pool, La Villa Eugène is
a class act. This beautiful
19th-century mansion once
belonged to the Mercier family
(villa-eugene.com; 84 Ave de
Champagne; from US$277).
To sip champagne in the lap of
luxury, book into Les Crayères
on the fringes of Reims.
Manicured lawns sweep to this
graceful château, where you can
dine in Michelin-starred finery
(lescrayeres.com; Blvd Henry
Vasnier 64; from US$394).