Our day tour focuses on discovering Chateaux and Champagne made with Pinot Noir grown in the Montagne de Reims. Traditionally, a chateau is a castle or stately home so our highlght is lunch at Chateau Rilly in Rilly la Montagne home to a number of Premier Cru villages.
Vines have been grown here since 850AD with 2 wine presses depicted in the alter stone of the l' Abbey of Saint Remy in Reims. During WW2 the Germans chose to store their V1 flying bomb factory, in Rilly 's old railroad tunnel which were built at the end of the 19th century. The factory was destroyed June 31 1944 in Operation Crossbow.
▸ Cellar visit & tastings at 3-4 family producers (Avg. 10€pp) near Rilly la Montagne.
▸ Lunch at the the stately hotel Chateau de Rilly. (From 29€pp weekdays wed-sat)
▸ Optional cellar visit (20€pp) at Pommery's Tudor/French Castle with Gallo-Roman UNESCO chalk cellars.
You may want to try their Cuvée Louise, a vineyard, made up exclusively three top Grands Crus: Avize and Cramant for the Chardonnays and Aÿ for the Pinot Noir.
An overnight stay at Chateau Rilly in a room overlooking the gardens and vineyards with breakfast buffet for 2 with a marvelous dinner ("Menu Decouverte).
Total half board rate from 330€ (paid directly to the hotel).
Day 2: Discover Pinot Meunier in the Marne Valley and see the magnificent Chateau Boursault, which Madame Veuve Clicquot built for her grand daughter as well as visit a few independant producers.
In the afternoon we will visit Champagne Moet et Chandon or private visit at Dom Perignon and a stop in the village of Premier Cru village Hautvillers were Dom Perignon lived and worked.
