The best champagne cellars

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champagne glass

Trying champagne in champagne cellars is fun

Advertisement - Kilometers of underground passages certainly suggest a treasure. But it doesn't always have to be gold and precious stones. For true champagne lovers, the millions of champagne bottles that are stored in such aisles, protected from light and heat, are more precious than a jewel. These treasures can best be admired in one of the largest champagne houses between Reims and the Épernay. A region in France, in which the knowledge of this special pleasure is still upheld.

The Mercier winery: a touch of tradition

The 30 kilometer long winery extends 18 meters below the chalk soil of the Épernay. If you want to visit them, you can enjoy the ride through the vault in a small train. After this experience you can go straight to the surface of the Champagne to be tasted. Nevertheless, the Mercier winery is not only known for its champagne. In the 19th century he had a huge barrel built, which was presented at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889: It was nominated for second place - directly behind the Eiffel Tower.

 

Vibrating desk in champagne cellars
Shaker in the champagne cellar

Moët & Chandon Winery: One of the most prestigious champagne houses

There is hardly anyone who does not associate the name “Moët & Chandon” with first-class champagne. The long history and the extensive cellar labyrinth already inspired Napoleon and still enchant their visitors today. The winery, which is located under Avenue de Champagene in Épernay, is around 28 kilometers away. Those who decide to visit can choose between different tours and look forward to the tasting at the end.

The Vranken-Pommery winery: art and pleasure

Not far from Reims Cathedral, the winery is in Elizabethan style. It was built by Madame Pommery in the 19th century and is still enchanting today. The estate itself comprises 120 chalk quarries and 18 kilometers of underground passages. But instead of a simple vaulted cellar, visitors can expect impressive frescoes, which are rounded off at the end of the tour by an art exhibition that changes every year.

Veuve Clicquot winery: a pioneering champagne house

In 1810, when the art of champagne was still reserved for men, Barbe Nicole Ponsadin created her own vintage. Since then, her name has established itself and is directly associated with excellent champagne. A tour of the Maison in Reims should therefore not be missed. By the way: the winemaker invented her own method to clarify the champagne - the so-called remuage.

The Ruinart winery: champagne with magic and tradition

The bottles from Maison Ruinart are stored at 11 degrees Celsius at a depth of 38 meters under the chalk quarries near Reims. It is the oldest maison in Champagne, which was founded in 1729 and has been a listed building since 1931. A visit is not only worthwhile to look at the countless bottles of the excellent champagne: Generations of craftsmen have decorated the chalk with numerous tiny sculptures.

Taittinger winery: a champagne with a past

The Maison Taittinger is located in a place in Reims that inspires with its history: as early as the 13th century there was a monastery of the same name on Place Saint-Nicaise, the remains of which are still visible today. This ambience enables visitors to travel back in time, as the chalk quarries of the Gallo-Roman era are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The Taittinger winery is just as connected to the old tradition: Even today, the family trusts the ancient knowledge to produce really excellent champagne. After a tour, this champagne can be tasted and enjoyed directly at a tasting.

 

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Text champagne wineries: The article about champagne wineries is an advertisement
Photos of the champagne cellars: Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline

The best champagne cellars

Monika Fuchs

Monika Fuchs and Petar Fuchs are the authors and publishers of the Food and Slow Travel blog  TravelWorldOnline. They have been publishing this blog since 2005. TravelWorldOnline has been online since 2001. Their topics are trips to Savor, wine tourism worldwide and slow travel. During her studies Monika Fuchs spent some time in North America, where she - partly together with Petar Fuchs - traveled to the USA and Canada and spent a research year in British Columbia. This intensified her thirst for knowledge, which she satisfied for 6 years as an adventure guide for Rotel Tours and then for 11 years as a tour guide for Studiosus Reisen around the world. She was constantly expanding her travel regions, but curiosity still gnawed at her: "What's beyond the horizon? What else is there to discover in this city? Which people are interesting here? What do they eat in this region?" As a freelance travel journalist (her articles have appeared in DIE ZEIT, 360° Canada, 360° USA, etc.), she is now looking for answers to these questions as a travel writer and travel blogger in many countries around the world. Petar Fuchs produces the videos on this blog as well as on YouTube. Monika Fuchs from TravelWorldOnline is among Germany's top 50 bloggers in 2021. Find more Information about Monika and Petar Fuchs here.