Things to do in Marne, Grand Est: The Best Food & Drink

*** CHAMPAGNE MASTERCLASS VIA ZOOM AVAILABLE - Perfect whilst travel restrictions are in place *** If you fancy being independent visiting the region, or you're on a tight budget - we have a SELF-GUIDED CHAMPAGNE TOUR - Available to buy through our website - It will provide you with an itinerary for a self-guided day out visiting the best places to go (in our opinion!) We are also your 'go to' consultant for special weekends in Champagne such as Hen parties and special birthdays. Visit our website for more details. If you fancy something a little more special, we offer bespoke luxury local tours of the Champagne region. If you want to 'feel like a local' and have a once in a lifetime experience, our tour experiences are for you.

Our house is located in the village of Monthelon, 6 kms from Epernay, the capital of Champagne in the « Coteaux Sud d’Epernay ». Monthelon is a typical Champagne village, nestled in the heart of the vineyard. The family has cultivated our vineyards at Monthelon since the XVIII century, but it was only in 1947 that the brand name Julien Chopin was born (or created). Our vineyards are located in the “Coteaux Sud d’Epernay” where Pinot Meunier is the main “cru” (villages of Monthelon, Mancy and Moussy) and in the “Cotes des Blancs” for Chardon-nay (villages of Chouilly, Cuis and Grauves).

A wonderful story... It was the year 1888 in Hautvillers, in the same village where Dom Perignon discovered champagne, that the family business was born. Edmond Alexandre and Laure Vautrin-Gillet pressed grapes and sold still wine to large champagne houses. From one generation to the next, the House refine their ancestral expertise to obtain wines with characters and flavours that results in a unique champagne. Today, Matthias and Thomas Kim EunDesruets are the sixth generation maintaining the tradition. Born in Seoul and adopted by François Desruets, they received their apprenticeship in the art of vine and wine in the LycéeViticole de la Champagne, and in the family cellar. An incomparable style... To maintain their identity and traditions, Matthias Eun and Thomas Kim always press their grapes the traditional way with the wooden oak press "Darcq-Flamain" used by their ancestors since 1888. Each cuvée carries with them over 125 years of history and passion of the House. With a capacity of 4000 kg, the oak wine press carefully crushes the grapes over a long process that give all the subtlety and rarity to the champagnes Joseph Desruets.

Pierre Jacquinot and his 2 sons Jacques and Jean-Guy have created champagne Jacquinot & Fils in 1947. Mr Pierre Jacquinot after the First World War during which has been seriously injured by the “Gas Moutarde” at 18 years old, has started to convert his family polyculture farm into a vineyard. He became at that time a Grape Broker for Champagne Mercier and was buying and selling grapes from local Grape Growers. In 1929 he set up his own pressing centre to process the purchased grapes. During all that times in winter he was going on the French Riviera to leave there to recover his health. And to sustain there he was selling Champagne under the brand Champagne Watteau. After the Second World War with his 2 sons he decided to produce his own Champagne while having all the facilities: a vineyard, a pressing centre, a small winery and a network of customers. But at that time it was impossible to sell your own Champagne when you where installed in a small village. That is why they moved to a Winery in Epernay. Nowadays the family owns a vineyard of 17 ha with the traditional 3 grape varietals Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. VISIT BY BOOKING ONLY

Cellar Visits – Tasting Workshops – By the glass – Boutique Since 1834, the passion and know-how of the Boizel family has been transmitted from generation to generation and today, it is Florent and Lionel, 6th generation, who continues with the family values ​​of quality, balance and elegance. In the Atelier 1834, a contemporary space on the 46 of the Avenue de Champagne, you will discover the charm of tradition and modernity, blended to perfection. You can either visit the winery and the historical cellars or taste the quality of our great champagnes. Or both! In any case you will learn about the history of the House Boizel and the Champagne making process. Among stainless still vats, oak barrels, chalky cellars and elegant Champagne, live a sensory experience!

Here is the TripAdvisor page of Le 25Bis, Champagne Leclerc Briant's wineshop. Domaine in biodynamy, founded in 1872, Champagne Leclerc Briant works with passion to the development of singular and original champagnes, fruit of a meticulous work to the vine and the cellar, in the deepest respect of the nature and the earth.

Champagne tasting bar Champagne Elodie D. harvesting Manipulant located in the mountain of Reims in Ecueil. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and from Saturday to Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. from October to April and Monday to Thursday from 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and from Saturday to Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. from May to September