Champagne Tasting in Champagne

Who doesn't like a glass of bubbly? I know I do. So when my friends asked if I wanted to join them on a weekend trip to go champagne tasting in Champagne, I didn't hesitate. What better place to drink it straight from the source? We drove to Folkestone, maneuvered the car onto the train to Calais and continued on the other side towards Epernay, which would be our base for the weekend.

The town of Epernay, which lies smack in the middle of the Champagne region, is remarkably low key. In a town that produces a drink that usually doesn't come cheap, I expected a town filled with opulent villas, and Ferraris and Porsches parked out front and streets lined with Louis Vuitton and Chanel shops. But Epernay is quite the opposite if not slightly run down. 

Except for the Avenue de Champagne. No Louis Vuitton or Ferraris here either, but plenty of grand mansions and opulent villas, with big names like Moet & Chandon and Perrier & Jouet located in the biggest ones. Clearly making champagne pays off.

We strolled along the pleasant avenue popping in and out of several champagne houses, big ones and boutique ones. We tasted (a lot), we walked through never ending wine cellars ( they measure a whopping 101 km in total), we learned and we were shown the ins and outs of making champagne( did you know the bubbles are made in a closed bottle?). And of course we bought plenty of bottles to take home, you know for those special occasions and celebrations.

With bottles spilling out of the boot of the car, we arrived back in London, where I schlepped the heavy bags to my front door. Of course arriving home safe and sound and with all the bottles still intact, was a very special occasion and cause for a celebration. I have a feeling there will be a lot of those for the foreseeable future. Cheers.