Guide to Reims
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CHAMPAGNE
Champagne
Reims and Epernay have been a centre of wine-making and selling since the Middle Ages. In the late 17th century, as legend has it,the Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon began experimenting with a method of pressing the region's black grapes to yield white juice. Champagne was born! In 1729, the first champagne houses opened in Reims and the neighbouring town of Epernay. Increasing popularity with the aristocracy, ensured champagne's success as a luxury drink.
Champagne is produced from a blend of black and white grapes. After the harvest, comes the fermentation of the grapes in the champagne cellars. Then follows the complex task of blending. The different brands are distinctive due to their cuveé, unique blend of grapes. La Montagne de Reims produces the pinot noir grapes, le Vallée de la Marne, the meunier grapes and la Côté des Blancs, the chardonnay grapes. The next stage is the bottling. The size, shape and weight of the bottles are decided by Royal ordinance. The second fermentation causes the bubbles. Next, the sediment is removed. This was originally done by turning all the bottles in the cellars by hand, but nowadays is achieved by machinery.
Champagne should be served chilled, preferably in an ice bucket to maintain the cool temperature. It should be drunk from a flute, a tall narrow 'tulip-shaped' glass. It is popular at parties, birthdays, romantic dinners and for special occasions such as wedding toasts or launching ships.
Champagne Guides
Champagne Web
Links to champagne houses and tourist information about the Champagne-Ardenne region. Click on 'version anglaise' for information in English. Site is slow due to loading of graphics.
All About Wine's guide to champagne
Guide to champagne covering the production, organization, classification, appelation, making and types. In English and in French.
Into Wine's guide to champagne
Guide to champagne covering vintage charts, champagne houses, champagne in the movies, serving, history and the region. In English.
Institut des Vins de Champagne
Offers 2- and 4-day seminars about champagne. In French only.
Champagne Wines Information Bureau
New York based organisation. Information on vintages, style, glossary, terms, trivia, serving tips, food accompaniments, etc.
Champagne Houses
- Champagne Ayala
- Chateau d'Ay, 2, boulevard du Nord, 51160 Ay
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 55 15 44 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 51 09 04
- Small independent producer.
- Madame Lily Bollinger is quoted as saying of Bollinger champagne:
- "I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad.
- Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone - when I have company, I consider it obligatory.
- I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am.
- Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty."
- Champagne Canard-Duchêne
- 12 rue du Temple, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 61 11 60.
- Ranked 3rd most popular Champagne brand in France, the world's largest champagne market. Tours by appointment only.
- Home page in English, French and German.
- Champagne Castellane
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 51 19 19 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 54 24 81
- Labelled with the famous red St. André cross.
- Home page gives information about the de Castellane tower in the heart of Epernay, the museum on champagne production and the butterfly garden. Also includes on-line ordering facility. In English and French.
- Champagne Charles Heidsieck
- 4, boulevard Henry Vasnier, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 84 43 50 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 84 43 90
- Produced a celebratory bottle for the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi family of Monaco in 1997. Also produces the "Champagne Charlie" variety, so-called because of its founder's nickname on arriving in USA. Tours by appointment only.
- Home page in English and French.
- Champagne Edouard Brun
- Home page gives information about the product range and special offers. In English and French.
- Champagne Gosset
- 69, rue J. Blondeau, BP7, 51160 Ay
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 56 99 56 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 51 55 88
- Home page in English and French.
- Champagne Hamm
- One of the younger champagne houses, founded in 1910.
- Home page in English and French.
- Champagne Jacquart
- Reims
- Home page in English and French.
- Champagne Krug
- 5, rue Coquebert, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 84 44 20 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 84 44 29
- Used by Maxim's restaurant in Paris to celebrate their 80th birthday. One of the oldest champagne houses, founded in 1729. Still uses traditional methods and each barrel is made by hand.
- Tours by appointment, on weekdays only.
- Champagne Lanson
- 12, Boulevard Lundy, 51056 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 78 50 50 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 78 50 99
- Founded in 1760. Tours by appointment, on weekdays only.
- Home page in English, French and German.
- Champagne Laurent Perrier
- 1???, 51150 Tours-sur-Marne
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 58 91 22 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 58 77 29
- Tours by appointment only in English, French, German and Spanish.
- Champagne Leclerc Briant
- 67, rue Chaude Ruelle, 51204 Epernay
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 54 45 33 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 54 49 59
- Home page includes information for importers and about vineyards, wine-making, cuvées and the cellars. In English and French.
- Champagne Louis Roederer
- 21, boulevard Lundy, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 40 42 11 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 61 40 35
- Tours by appointment and recommendation only.
- Moet Chandon
- Epernay
- Founded by Claude Moet in 1743. Site includes the Trianon mansion, built for Napoleon Bonaparte and his entourage for their champagne buying visits.
- Home page in English, includes a guide to champagne vocabulary, serving hints and wedding toasts.
- Champagne GH Mumm & Cie
- 34 rue du Champs de Mars, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 49 59 70 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 49 59 01
- Founded in 1827 by a family of German wine merchants.
- Paying tours in English, French, German, Italian & Spanish. Includes a free tasting.
- Champagne Perrier Jouet
- Epernay
- Tel: ?? / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 ??
- Producers of the famous prestige cuvée, the "Belle Epoque".
- Champagne Piper Heidsieck
- 51, boulevard Henry Vasnier, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 84 43 44 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 84 43 49
- The official champagne of the Cannes Film Festival.
- Homepage in English and French. Slow site due to loading of graphics.
- Champagne Pommery
- 5, place du Général Gouraud, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 61 62 55 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 61 62 96
- Shop open daily. Guided paying tours in English, French and German by appointment.
- Champagne Ruinart
- 4, rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 77 51 54 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 82 88 43
- One of the oldest champagne houses, founded in 1729. Tours on weekdays, by appointment only.
- Champagne Taittinger
- 9, place Saint Nicaise, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 26 85 84 35 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 50 14 30
- Paying tours in English, French and German.
- Home page in English and French, includes details of their advertising campaign.
- Champagne Tribaut Schloesser
- Founded by the Tribault family who learned their trade from Dom Pérignon.
- Home page in English and French.
- Champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
- 1, place des Droits de l'Homme, 51100 Reims
- Tel: +33 (0) 3 56 89 54 41 / Fax: +33 (0) 3 26 40 60 17
- Founded in 1772 by Philippe Cliquot, who passed on control to his son, François. On the son's death, the reins were taken over by the veuve(widow), Nicole Cliquot. Official champagne of the Danish, Swedish and English courts. Drank at the celebration of the Queen's silver jubilee in 1977. Tours by appointment only.
- Home page in English and French.
- Champagne Michel Weynand
- Rue du cimetière, 51130 Vertus
- Tel: +33 (0) 26 52 25 74 / Fax: +33 (0) 26 52 10 88
- Homepage in English, French, German, Japanese and Russian.
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