 |
Épernay, France Guide | |
| You've undoubtedly heard of Reims as a champagne town, but Épernay has just as good a claim to champagne fame. | ||
|
|
|
The town of Épernay, 28 km (17 miles) south of Reims, about 140 km (87 miles) east of Paris (map), is a major champagne winery center, home to such prestigious labels as Moët et Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger, Mercier, and de Castellane, all located on the Avenue de Champagne. In addition, you'll find many famous names, including Billecart-Salmon, Bollinger, Deutz, and Jacquesson in the adjoining towns of Aÿ, Dizy, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ on the north side of the Marne River from Épernay (map). Underneath the Avenue de Champagne are more than 100 kilometers of tunnels that make up the caves where millions of bottles of champagne age. While not all of the champagne wineries offer tours and tastings, a few of the major houses do. Booking in advance is recommended in most cases. More... A warning is in order: The wineries themselves are rarely the stately châteaux de la Loire or châteaux de Bordeaux that you may see in your mind's eye. Most look like workaday factories, trim but unexciting. The tours focus mostly on the caves, the underground storage areas where the champagne matures, and special tasting rooms. You can learn more about visiting champagne houses here. You can travel by train to Épernay directly from Paris for a visit, or from Reims, or you can plan a loop tour by train and/or bus: Paris—>Reims—>Épernay—>Paris. More...
Although Reims has most of the Champagne region's hotels, there are some to consider in Épernay. More... If you have your own vehicle, you may want to escape to the countryside and visit some of the smaller champagne wineries in smaller towns and villages. Driving through the vineyards is a lovely experience. More...
|
|
Tower of bottles at Champagne Mercier.
|
