Champagne Tasting Trip + Chateau Viewing

I kind of like the idea of killing two birds with one stone and getting to view incredibly beautiful, breathtaking Chateaus + Small Champagne Producers in the same day, at the same time. Sounds nice, right? We'll I think so...

I started bringing clients the other day with http://www.tastysidetolifetours.com to a great little small producer who I met at a Champagne fair just 20 minutes outside of Epernay close to the Blanc de Blanc terroir.

I love this producer because he has the greatest character and is an absolute joy to speak with. His Champagne is called Le Gallais http://www.champagnelegallais.com and he made my day and my clients were blown away by his humor, warmth and thorough explanation of the champagne making process. It is the time of year when producers are pruning their vines and my clients sincerely appreciated getting a little dirty, walking out into the fields and having the process explained to them.

Champagne vines are by nature creeper types of plants and therefore it is in their nature to spread as farrrr as they can. If they are left to their own little devices they would grow buds at the extremities of its branches thus risking producing a small number of grapes with irregular ripeness! Ie not a good thing! Therefore the vines must be hand pruned to maintain a good balance of ripeness and quality. Pruning begins mid January and ends at the end of March. During these months in the region you can smell and see little fires from cut wood left over from pruning. https://www.champagnegallery.com.au/champagne-science/viticulture/pruning-and-canopy-management/

The Producer: Herve's ancestors purchased this beautiful Chateau in the 1850's from la grand dame who was using it as a summer house. While we were not able to enter inside the Chateau, the outside grounds were absolutely stunning and it is quite well restored and taken care of.

With 3 hectors of land and a small production of 18,000 bottles a year Herve is truly a small producer. Also with a price point of 15-23 euro his Champagne is very much affordable. We tasted the Cuvee de Manor-Brut and an old bottle from 2002 which we picked up while exploring his cave.

The Beautiful tasting room

The Brut had incredible crisp notes of green apple, and tropical fruit and would be a perfect for an aperitif or alongside dessert. The vintage bottle which we were lucky to taste had much more complexity and notes of prunes and red fruit could be noticed. Both were outstanding and nothing like sitting with a producer in his home and telling you "to help yourself" to as many glasses of bubbly as you would like! It was before 11 so we stopped at 4 :)

The Reims Cathedral below

Our Mid day lunch break at http://www.epernay-rest-letheatre.com/Le Theatre Restaurant Eperany just 2 mins from the Gare.

Amuse Bouche shrimp with creme fraiche and tomato and a glorious avocado mousse with sliced prosciutto

Eggplant Tatin

Cannelloni of Smoked Salmon with crab and a coulis of tomato

Pear crumble with almond whipped cream and Reims rose biscuits

All in all a great day of small producer tasting, chateau viewing at Le Gallais Champagne in Boursault and a gourmet meal. If you are interested in going on a luxury and exclusive small producer Champagne trip on your next trip to France Tasty Side to Life Tours would be happy to help you have an unforgettable experience in the beautiful region!

Tasty Side To Life Tours

15 Rue Conservatoire 75009 Paris France

Email: tastysidetolifetours@gmail.com

website: www.Tastysidetolifetours.com

Associated Blog: www.thetastysidetolife.blogspot.com

How to Taste at Local Producers in the Champagne Region (Reims, Epernay, etc)?

1) You need an appointment. Unfortunately this is not Ca, it is France and things are more proper here :) So… you might need to go ahead and google translate or yahoo babelfish some key phrases and cross your fingers that as you sit there on the phone at 3 am in the US making your appointments blushing and getting a bit nervous you better hope that a) they understand your jumbled franglish and b) that they don’t you ask ANY questions!... “Bonjour Monsiour…ahhh je ne comprends pas” **In actuality even most of the vineyards that keep regular visiting hours prefer you to reserve in advance. Also the small producers always genuinely appreciate a call because usually they are out and about with their lives and need to know if you’re coming on by.

2) There’s persistently the issue of language. Some places are “English Speaking” but how well your owner speaks English can definitely vary. English in large towns like Paris is easy to find and most of the time if you actually try and do your best to speak French they’ll probably respond in English. Yet, in small country towns good English is still far and few between. IE casual visiting is fine with a few "this is good...yummm" but any complicated questions about processes probably won’t fly.

3) Trips to Farms and taking Cooking Classes are add on options in the region if you’re interested in learning to cook the regional food or if you want to stumble into a litte goat cheese producer and have yourself a quick pan et fromage snack beore your next house.

4) Short Weekends visits are definitely do-able from Paris and a must in my book. I mean a 45 minute train ride and back in Paris before 9pm isn’t bad at all when you have the chance to see 1,000 year old Champagne caves, winding beautiful roads of vines and purchase secret Champagne bottles for a 1000% less than the regular price (a measly 13 euro) to bring back home.

5) Ok, so if you want the trip just planned for you what should you do? This is an easy one, two. 1) Email me at sydneykrueger@gmail.com 2) I'll plan it for you.

I've had so many people contact my blog and ask me to arrange trips for them that now I am doing it as a little business. Basically I'll arrange to take all the stress and hassle out of the adventure. I plan for you to leave Paris early in the morning (we provide you with a light yummy Parisian breakfast from one of the top boulangeries in town-flaky croissants and melt in your mouth pain au chocolate) and you’re brought to the region by private car or high speed train (fee is included).

With your private driver you can have as much bubbly as you desire without worrying about 1) your french and 2) driving into the side of a chateau. We will drive through small towns and rolling hills of Champagne (like Rilly La Montagne, Verzy, Chatillon, etc) drink various cuvees at each house, stop into the Cathedral in Reims where the Kings of France were crowned, hang with lots of local producers and devour the gastronomy of the region through snacks along the way and at a fabulous planned gourmet lunch or pre packed picnic basket. ** There is also the option to stop into local farms, eat some fresh goat cheese, take a cooking class, hit a round of golf balls at a local beautiful old Chateau or do more cultural side activities as well. ** Yet, you also can just plan to taste at as many small producers as we can fit in if that is what you prefer.

Email me at sydneykrueger@gmail.com if you want me to organize for you.

How to Create A Napa Like Trip in the Champagne Region?

I had a great time a few weeks ago planning a trip for one of my blog followers to the Champagne region of France. I have people ask me all the time how oh how can they make a "Napa-esk" type of trip out to the Champagne region. You know, the kind of trip where you can mosey on down into five or six little producers, look at their grounds, maybe even play with their dog and most importantly drink some tasty local vino and chat about life for about $5 or $6 Us dollars at each spot.

Making this "white picket fence" California dream come true in France is a bit of hairy situation. BUT....it is possible if you have some inside info :)

Most houses Krug http://www.krug.com/, Moet and Chandon http://www.moet.com/, Veuve Clicquot http://www.veuve-clicquot.com/all require you to do an hour tour of their caves which is then followed by one measly glass of Champagne. This all comes with a price tag of about 15 to 20 euro. Sounds like its overpriced and lacking on the alcohol, right? Actually, the tour isn't bad and you learn a heap of info about the Champagne process but let me tell you, after 1 of these little tours you are done and done and ready to JUST DO SOME TASTING!!!!! (the 1 glass at the end of each of these tours just doesn't do it and find yourself staring at way too much mold laying on the top of very old bottles, freezing from being under ground for so long and barely with a buzz).

After living in the Champagne region for a year I know how to turn the "Napa-esk" dream into a reality. I've been many a time to the small, intimate and beautiful towns in the region and for people coming into town I can easily take the stress out of the process for you by setting up appts with the owners, planning your day, having you stop at an amazing gastronomic lunch, stay the night at a Champagne producers house in the village and even arrange a driver so you can really appreciate the bubbly without worrying about driving home on the wrong side on the tiny village road and running into a 1000 year old maison.

By focusing on the small towns and secret houses you can sit, talk and enjoy glass after glass of bubbly on your own time. From the brut to the blanc de blanc to the prestige you can try it all. Most likely at most of these places you're going to love the Champagne (especially at 13 euro a bottle) and probably be begging for a case to ship home with you!

I usually have pre-set trip prices for groups ranging from 1-6 people. I have different trips you can chose from with flexibility among drivers, michelin lunch or typical brasserie if you prefer, farms, morning markets or Christmas markets if it's the season, etc. You will have a chauffeur and if I can, I will be your personal guide. Let me know if you're coming to the area and interested!!


www.tastysidetolifetours.com

Sydneykrueger@gmail.com or
tastysidetolifetours@gmail.com