Discovering Champagne – Tuesday 24th June – Friday 27th June 2025
We are thrilled to announce our next wine-region trips for Members, for 2025, starting with a visit that promises to create some real fizz. At the height of the French summer, Members will enjoy tours, dinners and tastings in the heart of Champagne, not only at such historic houses as Philipponnat and Taittinger, but in-vogue growers such as Agrapart and Selosse.
Aside from these exclusive visits, the Club has lined up a growers’ dinner where we will be joined by a clutch of hugely exciting independent winemakers. Just scroll down for the full itinerary…
ACCOMMODATION
Members will be lounging in luxury lodgings in the heart of the charming city of Reims, keeping journey times short – or even within walking distance. Opposite the UNESCO listed Cathedral, La Caserne de Chanzy was opened in 2021 after a refurbishment of an abandoned World War I fire station, and is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Tuesday 24th June 2025
– 67 Members arrive at Paris Gare de Nord to be met by host Rebecca Mitchell and one of our 67 London sommeliers.
– Travel by private coach from Paris to Champagne, with a traditional French country picnic – and wine – taken on board.
– Enjoy a tasting and visit with Cédric Moussé of family grower Champagne Moussé, focusing on the increasing role of the Meunier grape variety in the region.
– Jump on a private coach to Reims to check into our accommodation.
– End the day with a dinner at a traditional local brasserie founded in 1925, Brasserie Boulingrin, where we will be joined by several growers present their wines and circulate between Members.
Day 2 – Wednesday 25th June 2025
– Visit and tasting at the acclaimed Champagne Agrapart, a favourite among the cognoscenti for its terroir-driven, expressive wines.
– Tasting and lunch at a leading Champagne house, with the focus on the vineyards of Mesnil sur Oger and the long-ageing, multi-faceted style of this rarely seen marque.
– Return to Reims with the rest of the afternoon spent at leisure, allowing time to explore the city.
– Head to the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ for a private dinner at Champagne Philipponnat, paired with a showcase of its incredibly gastronomic wines, including the beguiling Clos des Goisses.
Day 3 – Thursday 26th June 2025
– Begin the day with a tasting at the cellars of the family-run Franck Bonville in Avize, whose vineyard holdings are all grands crus.
– Indulge in a lunch and tasting at Les Avizes in the Côte de Blancs, owned by Domaine Jacques Selosse, where we will explore the grower’s expressive, Burgundian-style cuvées.
– Return to Reims via Epernay and the famous Avenue du Champagne.
– Dinner in Reims at one of our favourite restaurants, with Champagne Jacquesson, exploring how the house has embraced the distinct characteristics of the vintage in its wines, rather than aiming for a consistent house style.
Day 3 – Thursday 26th June 2025
– Breakfast at the hotel & check out.
– Morning tasting at Champagne Eric Rodez, in the grand-cru village of Ambonnay, where the owner of this bijou grower learned much from working in the cellars at Krug.
– End the trip with a tasting and lunch at Château de la Marquetterie, Champagne Taittinger’s family base on the outskirts of Epernay.
– Transfer to Paris with time to check in for onward travel including the evening Eurostar to London.
MEET OUR HOST
The tour will be led by Rebecca Mitchell, a wine expert with a stellar résumé. Former Head Sommelier at Gidleigh Park’s two-Michelin-star restaurant, Rebecca is a Panel Chair Wine Judge for the IWSC, IWC and SWVA, and holds top industry qualifications including the WSET Diploma and CMS certification. Her extensive travels to world-renowned wine regions bring a rich depth of knowledge and captivating stories behind every label. As a Wine Tutor at Ashburton Cookery School, she inspires chefs to master food-and-wine pairing, and her consulting work at Glazebrook House Hotel has earned accolades for its wine lists. With Rebecca, you’re in the best possible hands for this journey through Champagne.
PRICE PER PERSON
Double Occupancy
£4,100 – Double occupancy of Cathedral View room
£4,100 + £160 supplement – Double occupancy of Skyline room (subject to availability)
Sole Occupancy Supplement
£4,100 + £460 supplement – Sole occupancy of Cathedral View room
£4,100 + £595 supplement – Sole occupancy of Skyline room (subject to availability)
Deposit: £1,000 upon booking
WHAT’S INCLUDED
– 3 nights at La Caserne de Chanzy
– All meals, wine pairings, and tastings as per itinerary.
– Transfers between all locations in a private coach.
– Guided tours, seminars, and exclusive events.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Flights to Paris, travel insurance, and baggage insurance.
Hotel extras and additional wines not listed in the programme.
Optional gratuities for guides, drivers, and restaurants.
Sole Travellers: As we loath sole occupancy supplements as much as Members, we ensure that you are allocated the same category of room as couples – so the sole occupancy supplement price quoted refers to sole use of a Cathedral View Room.
Mobility: Due to the nature of the uneven walking in vineyards and cellars in general, this tour is not suitable for anyone with any mobility issues. If you are concerned, please contact Cindy-Marie on [email protected].
Travel: The tour meets on location in Paris. Travel to Paris is not included, in order to give you flexibility of choice, allowing for a few days in the French capital beforehand or for those joining the tour from elsewhere other than London. We will be meeting the Eurostar that arrives in Paris at 10.30 (local time). We will advise at time-of-booking as to which departure time on the Friday those returning to London should be booking for their return. We will also advise on Eurostar Categories.
Travel Insurance: It is a condition of booking that you have full travel insurance in place from time of booking. You may also want to apply for a GHIC which replaced the old E111 card (free and could be useful to have in case of medical emergency).