CHAMPAGNE

"If your heart is warm with happiness, youll need a glass
If sorrow chills your heart have two"
(Hannu)

29th May - 1st June 2008 (inclusive)

A weekend in Champagne staying in Reims and visiting the Cote de Blanc. The visit will include a large Champagne house in Epernay, a smaller family company situated near to where Dom Perignon first discovered the secret of Champgan and lastly, a favourite visit to the Grand Cru village appropriately named Bouzy.

We will stay for 3 nights at a 3 star hotel in the centre of the cathedral city of Reims.

DAY ONE - THURSDAY

Departure from Milton Keynes by luxury coach travel, with convenient pick up points en route to the Eurotunnel across to Calais. The journey from Calais to Reims is approximately three and a half hours.

Dinner with wine is included on the first night in the hotel and will be taken as a group at 8.00 pm. This will give you the chance to meet with your fellow wine-lovers.

DAY TWO - FRIDAY

A trip to the outskirts of Epernay to a small village with a visit to a family owned Champagne House with a tour of the cellars and an explantion by the owner of how champagne is made. This will be followed by a tasting and then lunch in the cellars with of course champagne to accompany the meal. There will of course be an opportunity to purchase Champagne at wholesale prices.

DAY THREE - SATURDAY

We return to Epernay to visit Champagne Mercier - part of Moet & Chandon situated on the Avenue de Champagne. The visit will consist of a tour of the cellars on the petit train followed by a tasting of their exquisite champagnes. Lunch will be taken in a typical Ferme Auberge with local produce and wine included.

DAY FOUR - SUNDAY

We visit the small house of Alfred Trittant in Bouzy one of the 17 Grand Crus of Champagne. The owner Madame Weber-Trittant, a delightful lady, is the daughter of Alfred Trittant who founded the company in 1930.

They have 3.37 Hectares with 2/3rd Pinot Noir and 1/3rd Chardonnay. The vines are a minimum of 30 years of age. Her wines are frequently featured in the Guide Hachette and her Cuvee Prestige won both the Grand Prix of Excellence at the Oenologues de France au Vinalies in 1998 and the Gold Medal at the Concours of Epernay in 1999. The prices here are very reasonable.

A three course lunch will be taken at a local Auberge.

We will then leave to catch the early evening shuttle from Calais.

Total Price £445.00 (NO single supplement)
Includes travel/accommodation/breakfasts/dinner with wine on the first night/lunch on tour days and entry to all cellars and tastings.































Included in the price is travel/hotel accommodation/dinner on the first night/breakfast/lunch on tour days inclusive of wine/entry to all tastings.

Excluded: evening meals (apart from the first night) and lunch on travelling days. Entry to chateaux or other historical monuments.




















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