Wednesday 9 December
The snow mostly melted overnight but still enough on the ground to provide some atmosphere. Temperature seems determined to stay around the 0-1°C range but we have enough jackets and gloves to cope. Today we adventured through the mountains (well small hills really, but they call it the mountain region here) of the Champagne region. This takes us through many beautiful little villages, along ridge lines, past vineyards with such names as Veuve Cliquot, Moet, Perrier Jouet as well as the hundreds of small wine makers that make up the region. In all there are around 3000 champagne houses. Finally we end in Epernay – the centre of the wine making industry.
Off we go – straight to Moet Chandon and book in for the tour of the Caves! Have a little time to wait, so into a local cafe for a coffee and then on to the tour. Moet have 28 kilometres of caves under Epernay – every bottle drunk anywhere in the world comes from these caves. An interesting tour and certainly thrilling to be in the home of one of the most famous champagne houses, but you would have to say the brand is everything. On a recommendation from our hosts at Lavanne, we stopped into a local wine maker and tasted and bought some very fine champagne. The local drop €13, Moet €40.
Back to Lavanne for a bit of a break and then back into Reims for dinner at the bistro L’Apostrophe – delicious meal with a fine bottle of red back home and off to bed.
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