Destination of the Week

Champagne!   Elegance!  'Nuf Said.

About an hour from Paris, the cities of Reims and Epernay are home to most of the great champagne houses. Many are stunning edifices with millions of bottles of bubbly quietly resting in the ancient chalk caves below. first dug by the Romans as they mined limestone for structures. And all along the Marne River are vineyards and villages devoted to making this remarkable sparkling wine. In fact, it seems every house in every village makes their own bubbly!

This is an area of charm and elegance where sipping champagne at any time or place is a way of life. It's also a region filled with history. They tell the story at Pommery of secreting large stocks of their famous wine in distant parts of the chalk caves that run under the property in order to hide them from the occupying German Army . . . in World War 1. And not surprisingly doing the same during World War II!

In Reims (pronounced Rhahnz) there is the famous gothic Cathedral Notre Dame which was long the site for the coronations of the French Kings. In its museum you'll find some of the royal finery. The stunning cathedral dates to the 13 th century however this has been considered holy ground since 400A.D. when the first place of worship appeared. It suffered massive damage during the assaults of World War 1 and was faithfully repaired and reconstructed. The stained glass of the great Rose Window and the modern work by artist Marc Chagall should not be missed.

Surrounding the cathedral are shops and bistros and it's a short distance to many of the great champagne houses. Tour reservations are highly recommended and can be arranged prior to your visit or through your local hotel concierge. In Reims you'll find Pommery, Lanson, Taittinger, Krug, Mumm, Roederer, Laurent Perrier, Veuve Cliquot and more. And it's also in Reims where the hospitality and magnificent dining of Gerard Boyer's Les Crayeres is located. Housed in the former Pommery mansion, Boyer offers 18 well appointed rooms and Michelin 3-star dining.

In Epernay stands the statue of the monk Dom Perignon who is said to have proclaimed "Come, I am drinking the stars!" when he first tasted the sparkler. It greets you at the entryway of Moet Chandon along the famed Avenue de Champagne where you'll find Perrier Jouet and others.

The true beauty and special feeling of the Champagne region can only truly be experience out in the towns, villages and vineyards. Wandering well marked roads, following the signs of the tourist route, stopping for a taste of champagne along the banks of the Marne with a crusty baguette and some local cheese. this is the Champagne to explore.

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