Our journey began at Paris EST, where we caught a 9:28 Rail Europe train to Reims, France. The trip was a short 0:45 ride with several stops along the way. We picked up an English map of Reims from the travel information center in the station, which we used (with the help of well-marked street signs) to get to the city center by foot. There are lots of shops and restaurants in Reims. Foot-traffic was light, which allowed us to meander the streets more easily than in Paris.
Reims is arguably the capital of the Champagne Region of France. Many of the leading champagne houses and vineyards are in the area, including Taittinger, Ruinart, and Veuve Clicquot.
From the city center we took a public bus (Euros needed) to get to the Veuve Clicquot visitor's center. The stops were a bit confusing for a non-French speaker, such as myself, but we managed. Those interested in using public transportation should allow themselves 0:30 to get to the visitor's center, as visitors need to arrive at least 0:15 prior to their scheduled cave tour time. Visitors must bring a copy of their confirmation email, as it will be requested at their arrival.
The ticket included a guided tour of the caves below the surface of the grand house. We learned about the company's origins, Madam Clicquot, and the unique manufacturing process for the iconic champagne. I was impressed by Madame Clicquot's story. She legally changed her name to "veuve," meaning "widow," so she could manage the company in the early 1800s after her husband had died. She also invented a unique way to rotate the bottles to ensure that the yeast and sugar silt fell to the lip of the bottle for easy expulsion. Storing the champagne in the limestone caves allowed the product to remain in a constant 45-50 degree Fahrenheit year-round. The tour concluded with a tasting of the Brut Yellow Label cuvée and Rose.
You can learn more about the various cellar tours and tastings here: https://www.veuveclicquot.com/en-us/visit-our-cellars
1, place des droits de l’Homme 51100 Reims
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AB
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