Champagne regional guide and tourist attractions - Champagne-Ardenne, France Selected hotels in Champagne Champagne vineyard Champagne, lying to the east of the Paris region, is one of the great historic provinces of France. As far back as the times of the Emperor Charlemagne, in the ninth century, Champagne was one of the great regions of Europe, a rich agricultural area that was famous for its fairs. Today, thanks to a type of sparkling wine to which the region has given its name, the word Champagne is known worldwide – even if many of those who know the drink do not know exactly where it comes from. Champagne, that most delightful of sparkling wines, was not actually invented in the region. According to legend, it was monks who bought the method for making sparkling wine up from the Languedoc , in the south of France; but they soon discovered that the chalky soil and climatic conditions in the Champagne region produced a bright bubbly wine that was in many people's opinion better than the sparkling wines produced further south.

There was of course more to the story of champagne than that; commercial success over the centuries had as much to do with the fact that the Champagne region was close to Paris and other great European cities, as with the inherent qualities of the product. But there is no region in France - perhaps no other region in the world - whose name has been made so famous by a local product. The modern region of Champagne-Ardenne, capital Châlons en Champagne, is not however one of the most prosperous of French regions; indeed, in terms of GDP, it is 17th out of the 21 regions of continental France - though 8th in terms of GDP per inhabitant. The difference is explained by the fact that in spite of bordering on the Paris region, Champagne is a relatively sparsely populated region - forming the north eastern end of what geographers have called the "empty diagonal" of France. Curiously, the capital Châlons is by no means the main city in the Champagne-Ardenne region; this honour goes to the former capital Reims (often spelt Rheims in English), one of the great historic cities of northern France, and four times the size of Châlons.

The Champagne-Ardenne region consists of four departments - the Ardennes (08), the Aube (10), the Marne (51) and the Haute-Marne (52). The region is bordered by Belgium in the north, by Lorraine in the east, by Franche-Comté and Burgundy in the south, and by the Paris region and Picardy in the west. The region is made up essentially of areas of relatively flat agricultural land and areas of gently undulating hills. The hills are higher and more pronounced in the north of the region - the area of the Ardennes - and the south of the region, an area known as the Plateau de Langres. The central part of Champagne is an important agricultural area, with vast expanses of cereal production, and – in particular north of Reims – production of vegetables and sugar beet. In the north of the Ardennes department, the landscape is characterised by wooded hills and valleys. The famous vineyards of Champagne lie on the chalky hills to the south west of Reims, and around the town of Epernay. Apart from the former regional capital Reims, the Champagne region is not a particularly busy tourist destination.

Its rurality, accessibility and low population density have attracted a number of second-home owners from the Paris region and from Belgium and Holland - particularly in the hillier areas; but more often than not, it is a region that tourists pass through, rather than a destination. Lying on the main autoroutes from Paris to Germany and from the UK or Belgium to the south of France, Reims, a university city, has all the feel of a bustling regional capital; the old city is dominated by the 13th century cathedral, one of the great gothic cathedrals of northern France, and a UNESCO world heritage site. Badly damaged in the first world war (see WW1 sites and map ), the cathedral has been painstakingly restored to its true glory. The city is also home to some of the major Champagne producers, such as Taittinger, and cellar tours are available. However, for perhaps the most enjoyable cellar visits and champagne tasting, many visitors will prefer to visit the smaller town of Epernay, fifteen miles south of Reims.

Lying in the heart of "champagne country", Epernay is home to many of the most famous champagne producers, including Moët & Chandon or Perrier-Jouët. The town being small, it is easy to visit a number of champagne houses or cellars on foot. Finally, there is another small area producing champagne, which is quite distinct from the Reims-Epernay vineyard. The southern champagne vineyard area lies in the Aube department, between the towns of Bar sur Aube and Les Riceys. Among the many historic sites in France that are less known than they ought to be, the small hill town of Langres, in the south of the region, must be near the top of the list. Sometimes referred to as the "Carcassonne of the North", the old town is a remarkable ensemble of historic stone buildings, enclosed within 3.6 kilometres of ramparts, mostly dating from the 13th and 17th centuries. But parts are much older, as Langres has been a fortified city since Roman times; and unlike Carcassonne, Langres is not jam-packed with tourists.

The Champagne region prides itself on historic links with some of the most iconic leaders that France has ever had - and in particular Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc), who came from the village of Domrémy, now in the Aude department, and General de Gaulle, who is buried at Colombey les Deux Eglises, in the Haute Marne. Contrary to false information repeated on several websites, de Gaulle was not born here, and had no ancestral link to the region. Main tourist attractions in Champagne Ardenne A small hand-picked selection of hotels in the Champagne region. All these Champagne hotels have been selected on account of their generally good user reviews: Click hotel name for more details, with online booking and best rates. For full lists of Champagne hotels, see page top right.

Reims - Epernay - Troyes area : Champagne wine route: top 10 guide | Travel | theguardian.com Previous | Next | Index Champagne wine route: top 10 guide In the first of a new series on wine routes in Europe, we explore the Champagne region, skipping the famous vineyards in favour of small cellars, staying at winemakers' B&Bs and dining at rural bistrots, tasting excellent champagnes at every stop theguardian.com , Friday 8 March 2013 11.51 GMT Get to grips with the Champagne region with our tips on cellar tours, winemakers' B&Bs and bars to visit. Photograph: Fulvio Roiter Champagne is like no other wine region in France. Although it is the ultimate in bottled glamour, it is doubtful if even most French people have much idea of how champagne is made – the almost feudal relationship between the rural growers and the luxury champagne houses, the difference between, say, a champagne that is an "assemblage" and a Blanc des Noirs, or a "millesime" vintage and an NV, the anglicised non-vintage.

While the famous international brands demand a hefty fee for a tour of their cellars, there is an increasing number of smaller vignerons who receive visits from the public, and don't charge for tastings, while winemakers are also opening their own B&Bs all over the region. The nearest vineyards are only an hour from Paris, and a few days stopping off at small cellars, meeting the people who make the bubbly, is the perfect way to begin to understand the mysterious world of champagne. WINEMAKERS TO VISIT Champagne Tribaut, Hautvillers Ghislain and Marie-José Tribaut at Champagne Tribaut. Photograph: John Brunton Ghislain and Marie-José Tribaut are pioneers when it comes to wine tourism in the champagne vineyards as they have been welcoming visitors since 1975. Their winery is just outside Épernay, and the Tribauts are known as "Récoltant Manipulant", which means they cultivate and harvest the grapes, then sell on a large part to the grandes maisons de champagne such as Krug or Taittinger.

Enough is left over to produce 150,000 bottles themselves, and tastings are held either indoors in a cosy salon, or outside on a sunny terrace with an endless panorama of geometric vineyards. While Ghislain starts opening bottles – as quietly as possible, because strange as it may seem, winemakers here avoid flamboyant cork popping – Marie-José brings out delicious nibbles like gougères, light puff pastry filled with gruyère. Their very dry Rose Brut costs €16.50, while the Cuvée de Réserve is excellently priced at €14.80, and there is no charge for the tasting. Ring in advance and they will also be happy to arrange a tour of the cellar to explain how champagne is made, and many guests have ended up returning here to work during the harvests. • champagne.g.tribaut.com , 88 rue d'Eguisheim, +33 3 2659 4057 Champagne Fallet Dart, Charly sur Marne Champagne Fallet Dart.

Photograph: Tatin Didier Only 80km from Paris, and well outside the historic heart of Champagne, the sign outside the Fallet Dart cellars proudly announces that the family has been vignerons since 1610, centuries before this part of the Marne Valley was graciously admitted into the cosy world of the official champagne appellation in 1937. They may have only been making bubbly for the last three generations, but the present vigneron, Paul Dart, is innovative and ambitious, and although they have a large estate of 20 hectares, nothing is sold on to the grandes maisons, and they produce roughly 180,000 bottles a year with a staggering 1m ageing in their cellars. In this part of Champagne, producers are generally more open to visits and free tastings, and Fallet Dart arrange cellar tours for those calling in advance. Prices are reasonable, ranging from €13.90 (£12) for a Cuvee de Reserve to €18.70 for a Vintage Brut.

Don't miss trying other local specialities, Ratafia, a delicious but lethal apéritif, and Fin de Champagne, produced in the same style as a cognac. • champagne-fallet-dart.fr , 2 rue des Clos du Mont, Drachy, +33 3 2382 0173 Champagne Gardet, Chigny-les-Roses A 100-year-old bottle at Champagne Gardet. Photograph: John Brunton The house of Gardet has been around since 1895, and although they may not be in the same league as the likes of Mumm, Bollinger and Veuve Clicquot this is very much an old-school champagne, which supplies both the House of Commons and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). There are 290 of these grandes maisons, officially termed Négociant Manipulant, who account for two-thirds of the production of all champagne, including 90% of what is exported. Gardet owns a mere five hectares of its own vineyards but buys grapes from another 100, producing a million bottles a year.

To organise a visit you have to call or email in advance, they reply with advice on accommodation and eating out, and then visitors are received at their headquarters in an ornate art-nouveau glass veranda filled with tropical plants. The visit of the cuverie, where the wine is made, and then the labyrinth of cellars takes over an hour, followed by a tasting. There is an €8 charge for the tour, but it is worth it. Champagne prices are higher than at a simple vigneron, starting at €20.50 for the Brut Tradition. • champagne-gardet.com , 13 rue Georges Legros, +33 3 2603 4203 Champagne Aspasie, Brouillet Champagne Aspasie's Paul-Vincent Ariston ho9lds a bottle pre 'dégorgement'. Photograph: John Brunton Vistors to the Aspasie winery are sure of a warm welcome as this 400-year-old farmhouse is well-off the usual champagne route. Paul-Vincent Ariston describes himself as an "artisan vigneron".

He bubbles with enthusiasm, and if you let him take you on a tour of the champagne process – everything from the old-fashioned remoulage method of turning the bottles during fermentation, to the dégorgement when the sediment is frozen in the neck of the bottle and spectacularly popped out before final bottling – then you are in for a whole afternoon. Of course, you could always stay the night, as he has three comfortable guest rooms at €65, as well as his own eco-museum. The visit and tastings are free of charge, while his Brut Tradition is priced at €14.50. But Paul has firm ideas about winemaking, and what is interesting is to try his Brut de Fût, that has been aged in oak barrels, and the totally unique Brut Cépages d'Antan, which uses none of the usual champagne grapes but three local varieties – Le Petit Meslier, L'Arbanne and Pinot Blanc – that were grown here centuries before champagne was popularised.

• champagneaspasie.com , 4 Grande Rue, +33 3 2697 4934 BISTROTS & BARS A VINS Au 36, Hautvillers Au 36. Photograph: John Brunton Before stopping off at a winemaker and his cellar, it is worth a detour to the idyllic village of Hautvillers, known as the birthplace of champagne. On Rue Dom Pérignon, just by the abbey where 300 years ago, the Bénedectine monk is said to have invented the process of double fermentation that creates champagne's unique bubbles (although, sacre bleu, it now seems it was discovered sometime earlier by a perfidious Englishman, Christopher Merret ), is Au 36, a cool designer bar that doubles as a boutique and serves food too. It stocks 50 different champagnes, and for a case of six, the price is exactly the same as directly from the winemaker, while for a single bottle, €1 is added.

Most of the champagne everyone drinks is an "assemblage" of three very different grapes, and the bar's young enthusiastic owner, Mathieu Valade conducts a fascinating tasting of three special vintages, each made with 100% of only one of these different grapes – Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir – explaining their individual characteristics. They also serve a delicious gourmet plate of regional specialities – Chaource cheese, Reims ham, lentils and pink macarons. The food and wine tastings cost €15 each. • au36.net , 38 rue Dom Pérignon, +33 3 2651 5837 Bistrot La Madelon, Mancy Bistrot La Madelon. Photograph: John Brunton The big thing lacking in the champagne vineyards are old-fashioned rural bistrots serving a hearty plat du jour. There are plenty of elegant gourmet dining rooms, but you'll be lucky to get out spending less then €50 at lunch, especially if you are tempted to try some of the local champagnes. Le Madelon is the brilliant exception.

Situated in the heart of the Côte des Blancs vineyards, this offers the best lunch menu around: a buffet of starters, main dish like a tender slow-cooked jarret de porc, cheese, dessert, coffee and wine (though not champagne!), all for €13.50. The owner, Didier Blanchard, has been here since 2006 and has also turned the bistrot into a museum for the "poilus" soldiers of the first world war, exhibiting an amazing collection of memorabilia dedicated to the terrible battles that occurred here in the Marne. In the evening, the cuisine is more gastronomic: imagine escargots au champagne, but a five-course meal is still only priced at €26, with a wine list featuring 30 champagnes of local vignerons from the village. • bistrot-madelon.com , 7 Grande Rue, +33 3 2653 1418 VINEYARD B&BS Parva Domus, Epernay Parva Domus B&B.

Photograph: John Brunton Épernay is the capital of Champagne, a town encircled by vineyards, sitting beneath 30km of cellars storing millions of bottles, and home to many of the most famous names – Moët & Chandon, Pol Roger, Perrier-Jouët. Most have their sumptuous headquarters along the stately Avenue de Champagne, which Churchill named "the world's most drinkable address", and that is also where Claude and Ginette Rimaire have opened a charming B&B. They are both well past retirement age – locals call them "mamie et papy" – but they totally spoil clients, and have beautifully renovated five elegant guest rooms of a grand 200-year-old mansion. The Rimaires, like seemingly everyone in Champagne, own several small "parcels" of vines, producing just 1,200 bottles. They serve a free flûte on arrival, and a souvenir bottle of their Extra Brut, costs €20. Below the house is a maze of cellars, running for a kilometre, and Claude is always keen to take visitors down, though there are no bottles of champagne anymore.

• parvadomusrimaire.com , 27 avenue de Champagne, Épernay, +33 3 2632 4074, double room with breakfast €90 Les Barbotines, Bouzy Les Barbotines B&B. Photograph: John Brunton Some champagne marriages are made in heaven, and when Jean-Louis Bonnaire ( champagne-bonnaire.com ) tied the knot with Marie-Louise Clouet ( champagne-paul-clouet.com ) he gave wine lovers the chance to sample both his own Côte des Blancs vintages and her Côte des Noirs champagnes. Then, 10 years ago, Marie-Louise converted an imposing maison de maitre vigneron into a smart B&B with five individually-furnished rooms. Guests have the run of the whole house with salons and a TV lounge, plus a big breakfast in the morning. While you can try the family wines at Les Barbotines, a better plan is to go over to the main winery in Cramant, which offers all visitors a free tasting, and a tour of the cellars, if you ring first for an appointment.

Bouzy is one of the key champagne villages with its wines classified as a Premier Cru. The pinot noir grape from here is also used for the local red wine, Côteaux Champenois, known here as Bouzy Rouge, which may not be on the same level as a Burgundy but is well worth trying. • lesbarbotines.com , 1 Place André Tritant, +33 3 2657 0731, double room €98 B&B REGIONAL SPECIALITIES La Cave Aux Coquillages, Fleury la Riviere La Cave Aux Coquillages. Photograph: John Brunton Patrice Legrand cultivates four hectares of grapes that he sells to the local Coopérative winery, and also produces 20,000 bottles a year of his own Legrand-Latour champagne. But he has another passion, paleontology, and has embarked on a crazy mission to present the geological conditions that create the unique minerality of champagne along with the incredible heritage of fossils lying beneath the vines, that date back to when this whole region was covered by a tropical sea.

Since 1997, Patrick has been digging into the rock face adjoining his rambling farmhouse, and has so far excavated 250 metres. He has discovered nothing less than a goldmine of exotic fossils. These are displayed in a series of educational alcoves along the tunnels, open to the public since last year as La Cave aux Coquillages. At the end of the tour, visitors arrive in a bar à champagne, where Patrick's champagne is on sale. Three rooms of his farmhouse are also a B&B, priced at €68 for a double. The one-and-a-half hour tour costs €8.50, including a flûte of champagne. • lacaveauxcoquillages.fr , 39 rue du Bourg de Vesle, +33 3 2658 3643 Pre En Bulles, Trépail Pre En Bulles, France Photograph: John Brunton Trépail is a village whose vignerons are a bit out of the ordinary. In a region where organic wines are rare, Daniel Leclapart makes biodynamic champagne and still uses a horse to work his vineyards.

Sylvie Gérard-Maizieres grew up with a father was not at all keen that a female should take over the production, so she slowly bought her own parcels of vines, selling grapes to the likes of Moët & Chandon and making her own champagne, before papa relented and let her take over the family estate. But Sylvie is a woman looking for challenges, and she invested heavily to open Pré en Bulles, an innovative boutique museum dedicated to champagne. Apart from organising art exhibitions, jazz concerts and cooking courses, she has created an inventive 12 tableaux theatre of robot marionettes that explain in layman's terms the a-z of champagne's history and the secret of its production. The one-hour spectacle costs €7, and afterwards, everyone heads for the tasting room to try her champagne. The vigneronne also offers accommodation in her three-room B&B. • pre-en-bulles.com , 2 rue du Stade, +33 3 2653 5000 Further information: champagne.fr .

To get around the vineyards, hire a car through carrentals.co.uk French wines and wine regions of France South-west Alsace Situated on the lower eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains, in the Rhine valley between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, the Alsace vineyard is rather different from any other French wine growing area. Like the region of Alsace itself, the wine culture here is steeped in a Germanic tradition, producing mostly dry or fruity white wines, the most popular being Riesling, Sylvaner and the very fruity Gewurztraminer. The rules of Appellation contrôlée - and more recently of Appellation Protégée (AOP) are not applied in the same way in Alsace as in the rest of France. In Alsace, wines are produced under a simple "Alsace" appellation, after which the next most important element to be indicated, and the most visible word on the label, is the grape variety or "cépage", Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Edelzwicker, Pinot or a few others.

Smaller areas do not have their own appellations, though with many Alsace wines, the name of the village or vineyard from which it comes will also be indicated. See also Vendanges tardives. Lorraine, also in north east France, produces mostly Vin de pays white wines, in the Meuse and the Moselle. Price list outside a top-class wine merchant in the Bordeaux region. Note the price of a bottle of Petrus 1982.... at 6720 €. Not for ordinary mortals. Bordeaux Wine, and wine growing region. With Burgundy and Champagne, the Bordeaux region of Aquitaine is one of the three most famous French wine-producing regions. Historically, its fame is at least in part due to the fact that of these three big grape-growing areas, the Bordeaux vineyard is the only one with immediate access to the sea, an advantage that has enabled it to be France's major wine exporting region for many centuries. In 1152, when queen Eleanor of Aquitaine married the English king Henry II, the Aquitaine region became economically integrated into the Anglo-Norman world, the Bordeaux region becoming the main supplier of wine for England.

This historic wine exporting tradition helped Bordeaux to develop far stronger commercial links in the ensuing centuries, firmly establishing Bordeaux wines, often referred to generically in English as "clarets", on the international market. The Bordeaux vineyard is centered round the port city of Bordeaux , along the estuary of the Gironde, and the rivers Garonne and Dordogne. It is a large vineyard, and the geo-specific appellation "Bordeaux" covers an area stretching some 100 km both north-south and east-west. While the appellation contrôlée covers wines of medium quality from all over this region, many if not most of the top quality clarets grown in the overall area benefit from more specific and distinctive area appellations, such as Médoc , Graves or Saint Emilion, and even more local appellations such as Pauillac, Graves and Saint-Estèphe. Unlike other French wine-growing areas, the Bordeaux area operates classifications of many of its top wines, notably those from the Médoc and Saint Emilion vineyards. The best estates in these areas have the right to sell wines designated as grand cru. Below the grand crus come other high quality wines designated as cru bourgeois.

Tip: 2009 is said to be an exceptionally good vintage year. Médoc Among the Bordeaux vineyards, Médoc deserves a special mention. The Médoc, an area south of the Gironde estuary to the north west of Bordeaux, is the home of many of the most prestigious French wines. Among the famous appellations produced in this area are Saint Estèphe, Margaux, Saint Julien and Pauillac. It was in 1855 that the wine producers of the Medoc region classified their 61 best wines according to a league table of "grands crus", ranking from "Premier Cru" to "Cinquième Cru". These grands crus are generally reputed to be the greatest of all French wines, and naturally their prices generally reflect this status. Obviously, if you buy an estate bottled wine from a chateau with grand cru status, (and of course they are all estate bottled), you can be pretty sure of getting a top quality wine. But take care! Even a grand cru wine can go off if it is not matured and cared for in the best conditions.

Other areas of south- west France Inland and southwards from the Bordeaux / Saint Emilion regions, there are a number of less well-known wine growing areas, many of them producing quite good wines at very reasonable prices. These include Bergerac, Cahors, Gaillac and Marcillac (all Appellation Contrôlée wines) , or Côtes du Tarn or Vin de Pays du Lot. While Marcillac is a small area, the vineyards of Cahors, Gaillac and Bergerac are quite extensive, and best known for their reds. The Cahors area produces some of the richest and darkest red wines in France, principally using the Malbec grape variety, sometimes referred to as "purple wine". However the Bergerac wine producing area is also known for its white wines, including some strong sweet aperitif wines such as Montbazillac Towards the Pyrenees, there are some surprisingly good white wines from the vineyards of Jurançon and Béarn, notably Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh, reputed for its distinctive aperitif wines. Close by, the vineyards of Madiran produce a well-known red.

Bourgogne (Burgundy) The vineyards of the Burgundy region cover a narrow strip of land on the eastern slopes of the hills running south-east from the Burgundian Capital, Dijon. the heart of the Burgundy wine growing region is the historic city of Beaune, where the autumn wine sale in the historic "Hospices" building is one of the high points of the wine year. Burgundy wines are classified on four levels, the lowest being the generic "Bourgogne" appellation. Selected areas of the Burgundy vineyard have their own classifications, such as Côtes de Beaune. Within these, there are smaller areas, villages and groups of villages, reputed to produce higher quality wine, such as Mersault, Pernand Vergelesse or Aloxe Corton . Finally, at the top of the pyramid, there are the "grands crus", such as Clos Vougeot, with its mere 51 hectares of vineyard. Finding ones way around Burgundy wines is sometimes a daunting task. The best Burgundy wines are the reds, the best of which can keep for a good 20 to 30 years.

However, Burgundy also produces some top quality, though not too distinctive, whites. It is often said that generic burgundies "Bourgogne Rouge" or Bourgogne Passetoutgrains" white are overpriced and not particularly good value for money. A good tip: 2003 is said to be one of the best vintages for many years. Visit: Check out hotels on the Burgundy wine trail ►Beaujolais: In the south of the Burgundy region, bordering the Rhone valley vineyards, a large area round Beaujeu produces a light red wine known as Beaujolais, paradoxically one of the most famous French wines. This is a wine that does not usually keep for very many years, and over the last fifty years it has been successfully marketed as a "vin primeur", or young wine, to be drunk after just a few weeks of maturing. But the success of Beaujolais Nouveau - launched on the market each year on the third Thursday of November - has more to do with clever marketing than with any real quality of the wine.

Champagne The Champagne region , centered on the towns of Reims (Rheims) and Epernay, is the most northern of France's major vineyards. Unlike most of the best French wines, champagnes are blended in order to produce either non vintage champagnes (blended from different years) or vintage champagne, blended from wines of the same harvest. Consequently, since the quality of the champagne ultimately depends on a balance between the quality of the grapes and the skill of the blenders, Champagnes are also ranked and promoted by producer, not by any more finely delimited appellation . Possibly the most highly rated of blends is Krug; other well appreciated brands include Mumm, Bollinger and Heidsieck, not to mention the very well known brands of Moët & Chandon and Taittinger. The distinct taste and purity of real champagne is certainly due to the chalky soil and the continental growing conditions that abound in the Champagne region. Several of the main French Champagne producers have set up branches and vineyards in California, but in spite of bringing over their best master-blenders, have never been able to achieve quite the same result.

Although many people imagine that Champagnes are all white, this is not quite true. Rosé champagnes also exist. Note: Champagne is not a generic term for sparkling wine from France. There are plenty more good sparkling wines from France that are not sold as champagne. While it is true to say that the top champagnes are inimitable, it is far from true to imagine that you have to buy a real champagne if you want a good French sparkling wine. Some other excellent sparkling wines are produced in Burgundy (Crémant de Bourgogne), the Jura (Crémant du Jura) and the Loire valley (Vouvray and others) and other areas, using the same techniques (formerly called "méthode champenoise" - an expression now banned from use in other regions) and a similar but not identical mix of grape varieties, notably Chardonnay. Only the most experienced connaisseurs can distinguish a middling Champagne from a good crémant or Vouvray... yet non-Champagne sparkling wines sell at a fraction of the price of equivalent quality wines from Champagne. Finally, please, the correct way to open a champagne cork is to ease it very gently out of the bottle.

It is not to imitate a victorious Formula One racing driver and spray the contents of the bottle all over one's guests. Visit: Check out hotels on the Champagne wine trail Loire Valley Although there are some excellent wines produced in the large Loire Valley area, there are few Loire wines, whites, rosés or pale reds, that rank among the greatest French wines. "Anjou Rosé" is a good everyday rosé, and "Muscadet" and "Gros Plant" from near the mouth of the Loire are dry white wines that go excellently with seafood.. Another good appellation is "Pouilly Fumé" (not to be confused with "Pouilly Fuissé", a white Burgundy). The Loire valley, however, is also France's second largest producer of sparkling wines, after Champagne. The region also produces vin gris, "grey wine", which is actually a very pale rosé, being a white wine made from black grapes. Two of the more prestigious varieties are Vouvray and Saumur. While there are plenty of Loire wines that benefit from appellations controlées, others are sold under the VDQS label.

Cognac: / Charentes: The Cognac / Charentes region is a major wine area, though normal wine itself is not the main product of the region; the wine produced is mostly used for distilling into Cognac or other spirits, or else for the production of a delicious apéritif wine known as Pineau des Charentes. Some white wine is produced under the Vin de Pays label, and there are some vineyards that produce rosé or even red wines. Jura. Possibly the most underrated of French white wines, Jura wines come from the south of the Franche-Comté region , the west-facing slopes of the Jura hills that look out across the wide Saône valley to the slopes of Burgundy on the other side. The best and most distinctive of Jura whites are made from the "Savagnin" grape variety, which is found only in this region, and gives the wine a delicious sherry-like taste. However, most Jura wines are blended from different varieties, and as in Alsace, the grape variety tends to be indicated on the label.

the Jura vineyard also produces dark rosé wines, sometimes called reds, as well as the famous "yellow wine", Vin Jaune, an expensive apéritif wine not unlike Amontillado sherry, made exclusively from the Savagnin grape variety. The most prestigious appellation for Vin Jaune is Château Chalon. This wine is made from late harvested grapes, and then left to mature in casks for at least six years. Côtes du Rhone Côtes du Rhône is one of those French wines that has become famous on account more as a result of the extent of the vineyard than of the quality of the wine. The Côtes du Rhône vineyard runs for over 200 kilometres down the Rhone valley from the south of Lyons to the Camargue . Within the region, there are a number of prestigious smaller areas such as Côte Rotie (in the northern part of the region), Hermitage or Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas (near Avignon). The southern end of the Côtes du Rhône appellation area isa ctually in Provence.

The vast majority of Côtes du Rhône wine is sold under the generic appellations, "Côtes du Rhône" or "Côtes du Rhone Villages". Côtes du Rhone wines are mediterranean wines, and generally speaking they are blended from the different classic grape varieties of the South of France, including most notably Viognier, Syrah, and Grenache. Price-wise, generic Côtes du Rhône wines are often at the cheaper end of the "appellation contrôlée" range. Provence Provence is a large wine-producing area, best-known for its rosé wines, the most famous of which are Côtes de Provence and Côteaux d'Aix. However, the Provence vineyard also produces red wines, including some very rich red wines from the Var, and "grey wine" from the Camargue area. The most famous of the area's white wines is Bandol, celebrated since the middle ages. Note that the Provence vineyard also includes the southern end of the Côtes du Rhone AOC area.

Languedoc The Languedoc region , covering the Mediterranean coastal plain west of the Rhone, produces a lot of fairly ordinary red wine, much of it marketed as VDQS or Vin de Pays. Languedoc is the largest French wine producing area in terms of volume. There are seven Appellations controlées in the area, the best-known of which is Corbières, and possibly the best average quality of which is Fitou. AOC wines account for some 10% of the region's production, but the proportion is increasing as Languedoc producers concentrate more on quality, rather than quantity, and strive to reposition their wines higher up the market. Thanks to the long hours of summer sun, grapes ripen well and quickly in this region, which means that Languedoc wines are rich and full bodied, and often have high alcohol content. The wines of Roussillon are very similar, this area being particularly noted for its fortified wines such as Banyuls. Rather different from the rest are the sparkling wines produced in Limoux, near Carcassonne.

"Blanquette de Limoux" is reputedly the oldest sparkling wine in France; and according to the story, it was a Benedictine monk, Dom Pérignon, who introduced the Limoux method of producing good sparkling wine, to the monks in Champagne who were looking for ways to improve the quality of their rather nondescript dry white wines. Regarding Dom Pérignon, the myth is almost certainly untrue; but it is well documented that Limoux was already producing sparkling wines in the 1540s, half a century before the technique took hold in Champagne. Copyright About-France.com © 2003 - 2017 ABOUTFRA There are ten major wine growing regions in France, plus a number of smaller areas. Indeed there is commercial wine production in every region of France, except for the regions bordering on France's north coast. French wine in a world market For hundreds of years, France basked in the reputation of being the world's greatest producer of wines. Today, that reputation is being rivalled by other wine-growing nations on four continents, and the French wine industry is facing new challenges.

Since the low of 2003, the French wine industry has been trying to reinvent itself, producing new wines for a changing world and European market, while continuing to provide the world's greatest wines, produced on estates with perfect conditions and centuries of winegrowing tradition. For those who know how to choose, and know something about wines, France still offers some of the greatest wines, with the greatest variety, and - yes ! - excellent value for money, even from the main wine areas. Top quality wines on sale in the village of Pommard, Burgundy Chateau de Montbazillac, near Bergerac ►► Site guide Wine Regions of France – France Travel Guide in Featured Articles tagged alsace / bordeaux / burgundy / champagne / drinks-guide / Featured Articles / languedoc / loire valley / regions / rhone / top-feature / wine / wine regions in france While I certainly drink my fair share of French wine, I am by no means an expert on the various vineyards; nor is my palette sophisticated enough to be able to tell you exactly what hints of what you are tasting.

That being said, I do know the various French wine regions and what kinds of wine come from which appellations (not sure what an appellation is? Read French Wine: Understanding the Four Categories ). As France is the country where winemaking and viticulture first was refined and the French defined many different types of wine production, regions of France are now just as synonymous with what wines come from there as what the scenery is like. France is the birthplace of modern winemaking and serves as a model for wine production internationally. Even though it’s only about the size of Texas, France produces between 7 and 8 billion bottles per year and has the second-largest total vineyard area in the world. Learn more about French Wine: Before you head to France, you may be interested in learning more about which wines come from the regions you’llbe visiting. Here is a complete guide on the wine producing regions of France. Loire Valley While this area southwest of Paris has long been known as the former stomping grounds of French Kings, the Loire Valley is also France’s third largest wine producing region and is known for its sparkling wines – it’s France’s second largest region for sparkling wine after Champagne – and for its lighter reds.

Whites Loire Valley white wines are perfect for spring and summer, as their fruity aromas and acidity make them lighter. Rosés The slightly sweet, pink hued rosés that come from the Loire are also known as a perfect summer wine and have a refreshing flavor. Rosés can be the perfect pre-dinner apéritif. Reds Loire Valley reds can be either lighter or full-bodied, but they do have a reputation as being a generally smoother, lighter red than those from Burgundy or Bordeaux. The lighter ones can be served chilled at a summer barbecue, and the fuller bodied are excellent for autumn, or as a slightly lighter alternative to more traditional winter wines. Sparkling (fines bulles) Because Champagne only comes from the Champagne region, the sparkling wine from the Loire Valley is called fines bulles. However, they produce some great sparkling wines that tend to be on the crisper, drier side, much like the whites from this region. Sweet The Loire Valley is known for its sweet wines that make for a great apéritif or dessert wine. Sweet white wines from the Loire are frequently paired with foie gras and are known to work well with blue cheeses as well.

Headed to the Loire Valley? Check out another alocholic beverage made in the Loire and Visit the Cointreau Distillery Bordeaux Bordeaux is not only one of France’s largest wine producing regions, with average vintages producing as many as 900 million bottles a year; Bordeaux wines range from everyday table wines to some of the most prestigious and expensive in the world. There are 57 different appellations of Bordeaux wine made by 10,000 producers (châteaux) from the grapes of 13,000 grape growers. Romans first established many vineyards during their occupation of Saint Emillon more than a hundred years before the birth of Christ. Dry Whites Dry white wines are made throughout the region from a blend dominated by Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, with those from Graves being the most well-known and the only sub-region with a classification for dry white wines. Unlike the lighter whites from the Loire Valley, many of these wines tend to have a significant oak influence. Sweet Whites In several locations and appellations throughout the region, sweet white wine is made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by noble rot.

The best-known of these appellations is Sauternes, which also have an official classification, and where some of the world’s most famous sweet wines are produced. There are also appellations neighboring Sauternes, on both sides of the Garonne River, where similar wines are made. Try a glass of sauternes paired with foie gras. It’s heaven. I’m not kidding. (Read more about Pâté: A Delicious, Spreadable Treat ). Headed to Bordeaux? Getting from Paris to Bordeaux Burgundy This region produces many of France’s most famous wines, and many of the wines from here are called Burgundies in honor of the region they come from. In fact, Burgundy has a higher number of AOCs (read about appellations in French Wine: Understanding the Four Categories) than any other region in France. While small amounts of rosés and sparkling wines are produced in Burgundy, the region is best known for its Chardonnay-dominated Chablis, its light, young, red Beaujolais Nouveau and its Pinot Noir.

DOWNLOAD OUR TRAVEL GUIDES DOWNLOAD NOW Because of the long history of monasteries making wine in this area, Burgundy is the most terroir-conscious region in France; immense attention is paid to which wines are produced where and in what kind of the 400 types of soil that exist in this region. Below are the main Burgundy Wine classifications: Whites Chardonnay is the most common white wine found in Burgundy. However, the Aligoté is a drier, more acidic white wine that is traditionally used in a kir (white wine mixed with a black currant liqueur called Cassis). Chablis (a Chardonnay) is the best known of Burgundy whites; it a dry white wine known for the purity of its aroma and taste and the cooler weather in the part of France produces its acidity. Reds Ninety percent of the wine production in this region are varieties of red wines, and Burgundy is best known for its Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir grapes grow best in cooler temperatures, which is why the northern region of Burgundy (and also Oregon!) produces great Pinot.

Beaujolais Made from the thin-skinned and tannin-light Gamay grape, Beaujolais wines are light-bodied reds with high acidity that are meant to be drunk “young,” or as soon as possible after bottling. Every year, there are celebrations around France (and the world) during the third week in November to celebrate the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau. >>Read about the Beaujolais Nouveau Festival Rhône This wine region in southern France produces many varieties of wines under different appellations, though the most widely produced and well-known wines are called Côtes du Rhône. Côtes du Rhône is one of the more diverse wine regions in France, producing everything from full-bodied reds to fruity reds and dry, full-bodied whites. Reds The northern Rhône wine producing region is much smaller than the southern, and produces mostly full bodied reds from the Syrah grape. It is called the Côte–Rôtie (roasted slope) for the large amounts of sunshine this area gets, sweetening the grapes more than others.

The southern Rhône wine region produces mostly full-bodied Syrahs and is also the birthplace of the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system, which defines the many vineyard regions of France. The reds from the southern Rhône region are known for being fine wines at more affordable prices than Burgundies and Bordeaux. Whites South of the Côte–Rôtie and the full-bodied syrahs, the Rhône Valley produces white wines from the Viognier grape in the region of Condrieu. These whites are known as rather intense with fresh acidity and higher alcohol content. Rosé There is a small appellation in the Rhône region called Tavel that produces rosé wines. While these wines are not well known, they do have a bit of a cult following. Rosé from this region uses mostly Grenache grapes and are best drunk young. Languedoc-Roussillon Much like nearby Bordeaux, the origins of vineyards in Languedoc-Roussillon in southwestern France date back to Greek and Roman times (you will often see bottles of wine from this region labeled Vin de Pays d’Oc).

This dry, warm region gets little rainfall and is actually the most productive wine region in the world. It stretches from the hills of Corbières at the foot of the Pyrénées to the Mediterranean coast and is the sunniest region in France, which allows for a slightly longer growing season and makes the climate more similar to wine growing regions in Spain than France. Reds This region’s red wines tend to be spicy and full-bodied. The area is home to many different grape varieties from Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah. Whites Several different types of whites come from here, including the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache and Muscat Blanc grape varieties. These white wines have a reputation of being on the drier side. Vins Doux Naturels These are “naturally sweet” wines, which means they have been fortified with brandy to stop fermentation and to add sweetness. The majority of these sweet white wines are made using Muscat grapes, have a higher alcohol content (up to 17%) and contain more sugars.

Crémant de Limoux Although these sparkling wines are made using the methode champenoise, because it does not actually come from the Champagne region the sparkling wine from this region is called cremant de Limoux. The sparkling wines from this region are made with the same method to make Champagne and are made in the small villages surrounding (obviously) Limoux. The wines are normally composed of a combination of Mauzac, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc grapes. Alsace This region in northern France is known mostly for its dry whites and sparkling wines, which grow and age well in the cooler, damper climate than in the hotter and more sun-drenched southern regions of France. Because Alsace region has changed hands between the French and Germans several times over the past few centuries, this region has historically had very close ties with Germany and German culture. This also applies to the wines, which produces some of the best Rieslings and aromatic Gewürztraminer wines. Because of its Germanic influence, it is the only region in France to produce mostly varietal wines, typically from similar grapes used in German wine.

Reds Almost all the wines from Alsace are whites, with the exception of a few Pinot Noirs, which tend to have a paler red skin and are often almost rose in color. Whites The vast majority of wines from Alsace are whites, which tend to be floral and spicy in flavor. Since wines from this region are seldom aged in oak barrels, it means they tend to fairly pure in character. Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer wines from Alsace have higher sugar content and tend to be sweeter, whereas the region’s Riesling, Muscat and Sylvaner wines tend to be much drier. Sparkling (or Crémant d’Alsace) Alsace produces a significant amount of sparkling wine using the traditional methode champenoise and mostly Pinot Blanc grapes. Champagne While this is not technically an entire large region, it is well known as only sparkling wine from this specific appellation in France can be called Champagne. The method for making Champagne was invented in this area in northeastern France near the city of Reims, about 100 miles from Paris.

However, long before this region became mostly known for its bubbly, Champagne was a major wine growing region in France starting in the Middle Ages. In fact, the Champagne region and Burgundy have a centuries-old rivalry and during the reign of Louis XIV, these two major wine producing regions would come to Versailles to compete for dominance. Reds Because this region of France is located farther north and in an area with limited sunshine, this is actually a difficult area for grapes to fully ripen. This means that most of the wines coming from Champagne tend to be whites and sparkling, as these more acidic grape varieties do better in the climate. However, that being said, the cooler climate also is perfect for the growing of Pinot Noir, which make the best reds from this area. Whites Champagne is known for its Chardonnay. The cooler climates and soil tend to give these grapes a higher acidic content and they tend to be lighter, crisper and less fruity than the wines from regions further south. Champagne Of course, the Champagne region is best known for Champagne. In fact, the area was the birthplace of la methode champenoise and is where the first bottles of the sparkling wine were created.

Envious of the stellar reputation of the Burgundy wines from the south, the Champenois (i.e. people from Champagne) sought to produce wines of equal acclaim. However, the northerly climate of the region gave the Champenois a unique set of challenges in making red wine—the cooler temperatures meant grapes would struggle to ripen fully and often would have bracing levels of acidity and low sugar levels. But the same conditions that made producing good red wines difficult in the Champagne region also proved to be the reason for sparkling wines to succeed. Want to know more about Champagne? Champagne Bike Ride | Discover France More Self Guided Tours HISTORY In the early Middle Age period, Champagne France was a duchy under Merovingian rulers. By the 10th century, the duchy of Champagne became a hereditary estate known as the county of Champagne. Then, in the 12th and 13th century, the county became well-known for commercial fairs where merchants from all Europe were present. At that period, the Capital was the city of Troyes.

Finally, in 1314, Champagne became a province of the royal domain of France when the count of Champagne , who had inherited the area, succeeded as Louis X, king of France. The successive wars of the Revolution, the Empire and the beginnings of the Republic left, until the signing of the Reims Armistice in 1945, painful scars of history on the soil of Champagne. The Champagne-Ardennes region is rich in events that made history of France and has preserved several vestiges such as the Cathedral of Reims. For a thousand years, the cathedral was one of the privileged places in French history, providing the setting for the coronation of kings. Mostly built during the 13th century and completed in the 15th century, this monument is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, remarkable not only for its architecture but also for its dimension. ON OUR CHAMPAGNE CYCLING TOUR: To visit on the Marne route: Domaine de Bacchus in Reuil, Statue du Pape Urbain II in Chatillon sur Marne: this statue, dedicated to Pope Urbain II, was launched in 1887.

Urbain II was born in Chatillon sur Marne around 1040. Château de Boursault: inspired by the famous château Chambord in the Loire Valley, this castle was built between 1843 and 1848 for Madame Cliquot, owner of the Champagne producing company Veuve Cliquot. Ecole 1900 in Oeuilly: an ecomuseum with the reconstitution of a school and a village from the early 1900s. TO VISIT IN REIMS: Cathedral Notre dame de Reims; Roman remains, with the oldest monument in Reims, the Porte de Mars ("Mars Gate", so called from a temple to Mars in the neighbourhood). Palace of Tau, an archiepiscopal palace, built between 1498 and 1509, and in part rebuilt in 1675, which was occupied by the kings on the occasion of their coronation. Place Royale, with a statue of Louis XV, and the Place Cardinal-Luçon, with an equestrian statue of Joan of Arc. Geography The Champagne region is located in northeastern France.

There are 4 departments in the Champagne region: Ardennes, Marne, Haute-Marne, and Aube. Champagne consists mainly of a chalk plateau and is best known as the home of the sparkling white wine: the Champagne. 30,000 hectares of Champagne vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see over the rolling hillsides, dotted with picturesque villages . Most of the exported French champagne comes from the area around the cities of Reims and Epernay. The Champagne region is also known for the raising of sheep and the manufacture of wool being part of the economy. FOOD/DRINK IN CHAMPAGNE The boudin blanc de Rethel (white pudding) The andouillette de Troyes (small pork tripe sausages) The jambon des Ardennes (dried ham) Cheese: the creamy Chaource and the Langres (matured with marc de Champagne alcohol) Biscuits Roses de Reims (cookies): great with Champagne! CHAMPAGNE, OF COURSE !

Important Champagne houses and small producers alike await the visitor to be able to share their passion: Mumm, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Joseph Perrier, Perrier-Jouet, Taittinger, Veuve Cliquot, and more. (you can visit all thoise places on our Champagne cycling Tour) Different slopes of Champagne vineyards: red, pink or white. Most of the Champagne vineyards are between Reims and Epernay. Only Champagne produced in this region has the right to call itself "Champagne". Other versions are often called "sparkling wines"which contributes to why the true Champagne is so expensive. 5 MAIN REASONS TO DISCOVER THE CHAMPAGNE : The region of Reims : Located less than two hours from Paris, this region is one of the most popular in Champagne because it houses numerous major Champagne houses and provides a lovely glimpse into the rich history of the area. The location where some 33 kings were crowned.

There are also five sites located in the Reims region that have been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage sites : Notre Dame Cathedral The Abbey (and the Basilica) of Saint-Remi The Palais du Tau The Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame-en-Vaux in Châlons-en-Champagne The Basilica of Epine Verdun-History enthusiasts will be delighted in all that Verdun holds for them. One of the world's greatest battles occurred here during World War One, a time in history that will never be forgotten. The agony of this battle lasted eleven months and resulted in 700,000 causalities, the largest number recorded for a single battle. Visit monuments commemorating this period such as the Douaumont ossuary comprised of 130,000 unidentified soldiers from the battlefield. Among other memorials is the "Bayonet Trench"which marks the location where a dozen rifles were found projecting out of the ground; below each weapon was a French soldier believed to be attacked by surprise. Fortress of Sedan-This fortress' significance dates back to the Franco-Prussian war.

Author Émile Zola refers to the importance of this castle in his novel, La Débâcle, and illustrates Napoleon III struggle to conquer the Prussians. When the Prussia troops invaded Sedan and surrounded the fortress, Napoleon was forced to surrender in a neighboring town. The Battle of Sedan resulted in the overthrow of France's Second Empire, therefore sealing the country's fate. Experience a glimpse of history as you cycle to Sedan in the northern part of this region, which is moreover renowned for its remarkable rides. Champagne Tourist Trail-This impressive tour of the various vineyards and cellars of Champagne stretches nearly 600 km and covers about 80 different stops. There are several different circuits to choose from, with differing themes, from historical tours to family friendly routes. The area is also perfect for cyclers and, of course, wine enthusiasts looking to experience some of the most exquisite vintages in the world. Epernay-Known internationally as the Capital of Champagne, this popular tourist location welcomes approximately 450,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

Its popularity is due in part to its central location in the heart of the champagne vineyards, and the copious international market it is home to. History lovers will treasure the 19th century champagne houses found along the world famous Avenue de Champagne. The real marvel of Epernay, however, is the underground cellars located along the 100 km of tunnels which were dug out of chalk and run underground, beneath the streets of the town. That is where some say the true beauty of this area lies. × Some of our tours can be in 2 different level, we have itinerary for both versions × Start your tour any day While most of our travelers opt for one of our pre-planned self-guided itineraries, we can modify any of our tours to suit your particular needs. We typically offer a variety of hotels to fit your budget. You can start your tour any day that you’d like and we book the hotels after you’ve made your booking with your chosen arrival day. Since our tours are self-guided and are mostly catering to couples, families, and small groups of friends, the hotels are a lot easier to confirm availability and more importantly, unlike a guided tour, the trip won’t get cancelled due to low participation.

You can even do the cycle tour by yourself if you’d like. × Champagne » French Wine Region » CellarTours Wine & Spirits Profile of Champagne, French Wine Region The name Champagne carries almost mystical properties for wine lovers. Here, the most famous of sparkling wines are made, the essential element of any special occasion. There are a bewildering number of Champagne houses, co-operatives and growers bottling wine under their own labels and a further huge own-label business with wines of immense grandeur and more affordable ones too! And yet, they all fall under the auspices of just one appellation. In the Champagne region there are some 30,000 plus hectares under vine with many of the 19,000 growers cultivating just a hectare or two. The Kings and Queens of this minefield are the great Champagne houses, who virtually invented the concept of the brand in winemaking. For them, making sparkling wine was always the only realistic vine growing activity that could be undertaken here, amongst the windswept rolling hills in the most northerly of France’s wine regions. Ripening the three varieties Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is by no means easy.

Because of the variable and challenging climate there is much vintage variation. The top vintage wines are only produced when conditions permit, under the strictest of conditions. Quality and reputation are paramount for the top producers in the region, who don’t want to risk their good standing with a bad bottle! The appellation falls into five main districts, which accounts for some two-thirds of the working vineyard area. The five districts may yet become their own sub-appellations in a desirable move to establish better regional identity in this geographically extensive AC. The rest of the appellation is spread across a vast area. The Montagne de Reims sub-region lies just south of the city of Reims and is famed for producing rich, full-bodied Champagnes. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are the predominant varieties here; this is definitely not white wine country. The village of Bouzy is as well known for producing the still Coteaux Champenois reds as its sparking wines. The Vallée de la Marne to the north-west of the Montagne De Reims stretches east along the river Marne.

The center of the district is the town of Epernay, a beautiful historical center full of famous Champagne Houses nearly back to back, and delightful shops enticing you with their vinous wares. White grapes are predominant here and the wines tend to be a touch lighter than those from than those from the Montagne de Reims, with more elegance and refinement. Further east, the Côte des Blancs is, as the name suggests, white wine territory. Chardonnay is virtually the exclusive grape variety with very few red plantings. The famous villages of Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Vertus are found here, the connoisseurs choice of Champagne. Moving to the south west of the Champagne area, north of the town of Troyes, is the Côte de Sezanne, with the small town of the same name as its heart. The vineyards are dominated again by Chardonnay, which accounts for some seven out of every ten vines. Way to the south of Troyes and away from the main Champagne appellation boundaries is the Aube. The area is one hundred miles from Reims. At present the Aube is largely planted to Pinot Noir.

However there is a strong case for increasing the amount of Chardonnay, as the clay and limestone soil suit the variety so well. Champagne shares some similarities with the famous region of Burgundy , as the vineyard sites have been classified as Grand Cru, Premier Cru or Deuxième Cru. Unlike Burgundy however, this does not give an indication of the quality or potential of a given site but works more as a means by which to establish the price a grower gets for his harvest. The producer or skill of the wine-maker is king in Champagne – you may have an outstanding performer in a second classed village and a moderate grower in a Grand Cru. One of the many fascinating contradictions in this region, unlike the Burgundian philosophy: the brand is arguably more important than the vineyard. Indeed, Champagne’s uniqueness and magic lies not in the soil, but in the variety of different styles available and the skill and prowess of the master blender. He or she is responsible for blending potentially thousands of different wines once they have been fermented to achieve the quality and style consistent with his brand. The reputation of the house rests with him or her, no small responsibility! What the Champagne drinker most commonly encounters are the non-vintage blends.

These are wines made from reserve stocks blended year in year out to keep a consistency of style not from a particular vintage. They can be wonderful and affordable introductions to the wines of the region. The champagne drinker should expect the vintage Cuvées to be a significant step up from the generic blends. They should be denser and richer in style with significantly greater structure. The Blancs De Blancs examples are produced solely from Chardonnay while Blancs de Noirs is produced from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier, to the complete exclusion of Chardonnay. Blancs de Blancs is more refined and elegant while Blancs de Noir is fuller, with richer, more opulent flavours. The pink Roses are often made by blending in a little red wine – the best result generally comes from Pinot Noir. Last but by no means least are the deluxe bottlings. These are the top end of the Champagne spectrum, uber expensive and luxurious. There is a wide range of style and the best are amongst the finest white or rose wines in the world. Expect great complexity, elegance and finesse. A wine lovers dream! Offical Champagne Website:

Question: In what area of France is champagne made?
Answer: Reims