Champagne Delight (Robert’s Day)

After breakfast headed east in search of some of the various champagne villages in the area. There are hundreds of small/medium/large allotments either producing champagne or producing grapes for the major Champagne houses.

We came across a small village of Oger where we visited a small producer who also had an interesting wedding museum. They opened up for us and after the museum visit we were invited to their cellar to taste their champagne. A girl who spoke very good English, explained the process and then poured both Karla and I a flute of Champagne made solely from Chardonnay grape. Think this is Champagne Blanc, but Sommellier Hamilton will correct me if I am wrong. We purchased.

Karla then suggested we head back via a number of producing villages and vineyards to be at one with the champagne production. We stopped at another pretty village. Pierry where once again we had a degustation and purchased.( Just as well Gendarmes don’t exist. Well actually they do, the Australian newly weds did not physically stop at a stop sign, despite there being no traffic coming and were fined €90 on the spot….can pick up some good restaurant wine for that).

Got back to Epernay and headed for a Chocalaterie where we had a pastry and heavenly hot chocolate. We then headed for a Champagne Emporium where we sampled another 3 champagnes and purchased. I then headed for Moet et Chandon for a tour, but Monsieur Snooty Moet advised only space for English in 2 hour time, I declined and did not purchase. I contacted Karla and we headed for Castellane which as well as having a champagne tour had a wonderful tower that overlooked the wine fields which cover the landscape. This was a great tour and took you round a fully working champagne production, we saw everything from the fermentation to the spectacular removal of the ice sediment and bottling unit. This was a brilliant tour at a fraction of Messr Snooty Moet and champers also tasted great…not surprising after the number of glasses in the day so far (16.00). Again we purchased.

We are currently drying out and plan to head for a nice restaurant this evening and no doubt some more shampoo.

Early start for Brugges tomorrow for our final stop before returning home. Looks like a day of chocolate, beer and moules et frites.

Lots of Love

R, K & K