Stays / Week end oenology Champagne

A very well admired destination

The birthplace of Champagne, the eponymous sparkling wine, Champagne is a wine destination in its own. Located between Reims and Epernay, the villages or crus (319 in total) succeed on another in 5 departments and 4 distinct regions separated by their type of terroir: the Montagne de Reims, the côte des bars, the côte des blancs et de Sézanne, la vallée de la Marne. La région est couverte par 34 300 hectares de vignes.
Villages with authentic charm, often located high on a small mountain or hillside.

33 400 ha    42 Premiers Crus  17 Grands Crus

Environment
Champagne reveals its charms at every moment of the day, whether in the morning when the mist caresses the surrounding mountains, during the day when the sun rises and warms the almost omnipresent vineyards or at the end of the day to enjoy a drink at sunset.

Copyright @lacartedesvins-svp

Its terroir
The composition of the subsoil is mainly limestone. The outcropping sediments are also 75% calcareous (chalk, marl and limestone proper). This type of basement favours soil drainage and, gustatively, the very particular minerality of certain Champagne wines. 275,000 parcels have been identified and named for many years. Their names evoke their identity: the Chauffours, the Gouttes d'Or, the Froids Monts.

Production
16 000 winemakers share the vineyards and 340 houses of Champagne have settled in the countryside for many years. It is often said that "Champagne belongs to the winemakers", when we see the report it is not doubtful! More than 360 million bottles are produced every year.

What type of grapes are used in the production of Champagne?

31% pinot noir, 38% pinot meunier, 31% chardonnay

Gastronomy specialities
Jambon d'Ardenne, jambon de Reims, Biscuit rose de Reims, Andouillette de Troyes...

In brief

If the method of production of Champagne is used worldwide, it can give its name only to the wines produced in the zone of authorized production that is to say the Champagne. Dom Pérignon (monk having discovered the second fermentation in bottles, also called Champenoise method) is here the spiritual father of the Champagne, it is moreover possible to go to meditate on his grave in Hautvillers. To travel through its vineyards is to travel through history, it is to understand why Champagne is unique and it is to meet men and women above all in love with their terroirs.