BIENVENUES À CHAMPAGNE!

Welcome to Champagne!

Arrivals from CDG or Orly (or Paris city – Gare de l’Est) on the TGV to Reims station, then transfer 20 minutes for check in to our rooms at the uniquely elegant Les Avisés. Part of the revered Jacques Selosse domaine, the hotel is known for its charming lack of pretension and relaxed elegance.

Welcome drink and orientation tasting

We’ll begin the evening with a welcome glass of Champagne – naturally – and an intimate orientation tasting in a private room at the hotel. Guided by The Vines’ wine experts, this introduction will offer a rich overview of the region’s history, its diverse terroirs, and the remarkable wine that made Champagne a name known around the world.

Dinner at the hotel’s highly lauded restaurant

We’ll follow the tasting with a dinner prepared just for us at the hotel’s restaurant. Helmed by chef Stephane Rossillon and his wife Nathalie, this jewel box of a restaurant presents seasonal dishes that perfectly accompany the Selosse Champagnes. We’ll explore the range of styles and how each works with the local ingredients.

GROWER EXPLORATION

Guided bike ride through local villages

We’ll hop on our bikes to make our way through the nearby scenic vineyards and villages, eventually ending up in Avize for our morning tasting.

Private tour and tasting with a local grower

This region is full of in-the-know growers just waiting to be discovered, and we will start our discovery with one of the best. We’ll tour the ancient cellar and then taste through the family’s lineup of beautifully made Champagnes while we learn about their unique philosophy.

Lunch at Restaurant La Gare in Mesnil

Lunch today is at this cozy, unpretentious gem in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil, where locals gather for honest, soulful cooking and bottles of Champagne pulled straight from the village cellars.

Private tour and tasting with a local grower

There are so many greats here, it’s difficult to choose, but this afternoon’s visit will be a highlight. This domaine, known for its ageable Blanc de Blancs, is a sommelier’s favorite. We’ll get an insider’s perspective on why.

Rest and relaxation

Back at the hotel, relax on the Les Avisés grounds or in your room, to freshen up for dinner.

Dinner at Michelin-starred restaurant Le Grand Cerf

We’ll head to Villers-Allerand for dinner at an elegant countryside retreat where refined cuisine meets rustic charm. Offering a Michelin-starred experience steeped in the traditions of Champagne’s heartland, this restaurant will win your heart.

DOSAGE & OTHER DELIGHTS WITH DRAPPIER

Cellar tour, tasting and dosage session with the Drappier family

Dosage is one of the most important and enjoyable steps of the Champagne-making process, and you’ll be right there doing it live with Michel and Hugo Drappier. After a tour of the Drappiers’ ancient cellars and tasting through a selection of Drappier’s own finished Champagnes, we will sit down, choose the style you like best, and adjust the dryness of your Champagnes together.

Lunch at Drappier

After working up an appetite, we will sit for a seasonal lunch prepared just for us by a highly regarded local chef. Using local ingredients, the chef prepares a meal that will be perfectly complemented by the Drappier Champagnes.

Rest and relaxation

Back at the hotel, relax on the Les Avisés grounds or in your room, to freshen up for dinner.

Farewell vintage Champagne dinner at La Grillade Gourmand

Our farewell dinner will be at this warm and welcoming bistro in Épernay, where classic French fare is served with heart, and the Champagne list is as thoughtful as the cooking. We’ll select several vintage Champagnes to pair with our meal, going out with a true bang.

ADIEU

Check out and morning departures.