Down into the chalk cellars
Pommery, Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Mumm, Vranken: the Reims houses open their doors for a guided tour of their crayères, chalk galleries listed by UNESCO. You descend into gentle light, learn the champagne method, riddling and disgorgement, then come back up for a tasting. A date for two in the chalk’s cool freshness, far from the noise, loosens even the shyest conversations.
Vineyards of the Montagne de Reims
South of the city begins the Montagne de Reims, a regional natural park covered in Pinot Noir and Meunier vines. Great crus like Verzenay, Verzy, Mailly or Bouzy are explored by car or bike, from one lookout to the next, with a stop at the Faux de Verzy, surprising twisted beech trees. A tasting at a grower-producer’s cellar ends the day far better than any brochure.
Hautvillers and local sweet treats
A little further south, the village of Hautvillers, nestled above the Marne, is famous for its abbey where Dom Pérignon worked on the sparkling method. You wander beneath the wrought-iron shop signs along the paved streets. Back in Reims, you take home biscuits roses, a light pink biscuit to dip in champagne, created in 1756. On Lyad, the people of Reims share their favourite cuvées; it is up to you to find someone to pop the cork with.
Date ideas
- Champagne houses
- Pommery cellars
- Taittinger cellars
- Veuve Clicquot cellars
- Montagne de Reims
- Hautvillers
- Pink biscuits