Champagne Wine Tour

£650.00

Sorry, this tour is now fully booked! But you can still add your name to the waitlist to be the first to know if any spaces become available.
If you have ever wanted to visit this fascinating area, discover the secret of the bubble, and find out what makes champagne the celebratory drink par excellence, then this is the weekend for you. You will see the miles of cellars dug out of chalk where millions of bottle age gracefully, learn how champagne is made, and discover what makes it so special. You will visit one Grande Marque producer and, the highlight of the weekend…three hand-picked family producers who offer unbeatable quality and value as well as a very personal experience.

AND this special 4-day trip coincides with the Vignerons Independants Wine Fair in Reims where you can taste and buy wines from hundreds of independent family producers from all over France! The current limit per person on bringing back wine to the UK is 12 bottles of sparkling + 24 non-sparkling, so this is a great opportunity to stock up with non-sparkling wines as well as champagne. There will also be time to explore the beautiful city of Reims from our centrally located hotel and sample its fine restaurants.

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Itinerary
Pricing Information
Accommodation
Travel
Itinerary

Day 1: Friday 10th November

Around 7am, meet our coach outside the Hilton Doubletree Hotel, Victoria and set off towards Dover and the Ferry Terminal. After making a brief stop at Stop 24 service station to collect some passengers we’ll check in, and after Passport Control we’ll board our ferry. The crossing takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. Once in France we join the motorway and drive across the gently undulating plains of northern France to the Champagne region, stopping for refreshments en-route at a motorway service station.
Arriving in Reims late afternoon we’ll check-in to our hotel. Then we’ll head straight to the Vignerons Independants Wine Fair (see further details below). There will be hundreds of wine producers from all over France, including all the major wine regions. You can taste as many wines as you like and buy your favourites.

Day 2: Saturday 11th November
After breakfast this morning we’ll go to one of the Grand Marque Houses in Reims for a tour of their extensive cellars and a glass of their non-vintage champagne. We’ll head back to our hotel and there will be some free time to explore the city, browse the shops, and to have lunch.

Early afternoon we’ll head towards Epernay and the Montagne de Reims where we will visit the first of our three family champagne producers. Situated in the best villages they are hand-picked for the quality and value which they offer. At each one we will taste various champagnes from their range and you will be able to buy supplies at attractive prices.

Late afternoon, we return to our hotel in Reims. This evening is free to go back to the Vignerons Independants Wine Fair and/or try one of the many restaurants and bars in the town.

Day 3: Sunday 12th November
After breakfast this morning we head back towards the vineyards to visit another family producer. Then we will head either to Epernay for some free time and for lunch, or back to Reims. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free in Reims – maybe a visit to the majestic cathedral or a final visit to taste a few more wines at the Vignerons Independants Wine Fair! This evening is free to enjoy Reims and its restaurants.

Day 4: Monday 13th November
After breakfast we check out and visit our final family champagne producer. After free time for lunch, early afternoon we drive back to Calais and the Ferry terminal. After our crossing we expect to arrive at Stop 24 at around 8pm and at London Victoria at around 9.30pm.

TOUR ENDS

Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants

The Salons des Vins Vignerons Independants will be held in the REIMS PARC DES EXPOS, Site Henri Farman 51000, approx. 1 ½ miles from our hotel. The opening times are as follows:

  • Friday 10th November: 11am to 8pm
  • Saturday 11th November: 10am 8pm
  • Sunday 12th November: 10am to 8pm
  • Monday 13th November: 10am to 4pm

There will be several food stalls at the Fair. Nearer the time you will be able to search the website and see which producers from the various regions will be attending.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday our coach will take us to the Salon des Vins (Wine Fair) and bring us back to our hotel – timings to be arranged.

Pricing Information

Pricing Information

Pricing Information:

  • £625 per person sharing a double or twin room
  • £125 single supplement for sole occupancy of a double/twin room
  • £75 supplement per person for upgrade to ‘Privilege’ room (double or twin share only, not available for single rooms). Limited number of upgraded rooms available

Price Includes

  • Air-conditioned, executive coach for travel between the UK and the Champagne region, and throughout the tour
  • Crossing between Dover and Calais by Ferry
  • 3 nights bed and buffet breakfast at the 4-star Hotel de la Paix in Reims
  • Tastings at four Champagne houses (one Grande Marque and three family producers)
  • Ticket for the Vignerons Independants Wine Fair
  • Services of a tour leader/wine guide from Criterion Wine Tours

A non-refundable deposit of £175 per person is payable when booking. The remaining balance is due 8 weeks before the start of the tour. Your money will be held in a secure Client Deposit Account and is fully protected.

Accommodation

Accommodation

Hotel de la Paix in Reims is a 4-star rated hotel, very centrally located just a stone’s throw from numerous restaurants and bars. The air-conditioned, modern rooms are all en-suite, with TV and minibar. There is a trendy bar, restaurant (Café de la Paix) and a small swimming pool.

A limited number of upgraded ‘Privilege’ rooms, which are more spacious, are available for a supplement (see Pricing Information).

Travel

Travel

We leave from London Victoria at around 7am on Friday in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach. The coach has 53 seats but the maximum group size is 35 people, so there’ll be plenty of room for your champagne and wine purchases!

Alternatively at around 9am you may join the coach at STOP 24 service station at Junction 11 on the M20. Parking is available here for around £9 per day http://www.stop24.co.uk/

Return journey to the UK: leaving after lunch on Monday, after the ferry crossing from Calais to Dover, we will arrive at STOP 24 around 8.30pm and at London Victoria around 10pm.

10-13 November 2023