Reims and Champagne region

A very early start this morning, the alarm went of at 5.50.   This was to be ready for our taxi pickup at 7 am.  A quick trip, and a €21 fare to the depot to meet our coach tour for Reims and the Campagne region.   As we were early there was a chance for a coffee before leaving.  We did the Parisienne method, and sat facing the road.   Actually, unless you change the chairs around, you have no choice, as they all face the street!

Our coach left right on time at 8 pm, with an English speaking guide, and we headed out of Paris towards Reims.  The town is named after an old powerful Celtic tribe, and was an important town and road junction in the 5th century.

Our first stop was the MUMM House of champagne, which was founded in 1976 by Herr Mumm, who came from Germany to make champagne.  We were taken on a tour of the caves (cellars) and learned about the process of making the bubbles that we all enjoy.  There are three grapes blended, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Pinot meunière.  The Pinot grapes are black with white juice and the Chardonnay is white.   The Campagne here is aged for three years; to be called champagne, it must be aged at least 18 months.

After the tour we had a tasting, we could choose between brut (dry) and Demi sec (sweet). Both were nice.  One should open champagne by holding the cork still, and turning the bottle we were told.

Our next stop was the Notre Dame cathedral of Reims.  The building of the cathedral began in 1211, and was completed over 100 years, on a site that had housed a church since the 5th century. All the Kings of France have been crowned in this magnificent building.

 

After free time for lunch and wandering around, we went to the town of  Epernay, not far from Reims.

The countryside is lovely, and covered with many hectares of grape vines that are nearly ready for harvest.  All the harvesting for the champagne is done by hand, and the grapes grow especially well in this region because of the chalkiness of the soil.

We visited another champagne house in Epernay, the house of Mercier.   It was established in 1858 by Eugene Cartier.      On this tour we were taken through the cellars in a small train.   It was a completely different atmosphere  from the Mumm House, and at the tasting we discovered that the champagne was not quite as smooth or nice.   This was reflected in the price as well, about half of that of the Mumm House.

On returning to Paris, we went for a walk to the Place de la Concorde, where Marie-Antoinette was executed.

A Tuktuk seemed like a good way to get home this evening.   Online, we found an  Italian restaurant just within walking distance from our apartment, so we wandered up for a delicious pasta meal.