Champagne Tastings?

Question

I am going to be in Reims in March, and am interested in doing a Champagne tasting. I am going to be based in Paris, so I only have one day for this. The houses that I have found reccommended are Launois, Pere et Fils, Mercier, Alfred Gratien, Perrier-Jouet, Pommerier, Mailey Grand Cru, Velve Cliquot, Mumm, Tattinger, and Maison Veuve Cliquot-Ponsardin.

Naturally, I don't have time to see all of these - can you reccommend a top 3?

BTW - Reims is in the Champagne region of France.

BTW - Reims is in the Champagne region of France, and is THE place for Champagne.

Answer 1

Mercier is well worth visiting, has a nice tour of its cellars, but it is not located in Reims but in Epernay. Perrier-Jouet is in Epernay, so is Alfred Gratien. Launois is not in Reims and you need to make an appointment. Veuve-Cliquot Ponsardin is in Reims but you must make an appointment for a tour in advance. (I am puzzled by the person who recommends Veuve-Cliquot Ponsardin but then says to forget Veuve-Cliquot since they are one and the same)

I never heard of Pommerier - do you mean Pommery? Mailey Grand Cru isn't a Champagne house, it is the name of a vineyard area. Pere & Fils just means 'father & son' and is like part of a winery name, Launois Pere & Fils which is in Mesnil Sur Oger

Mumm is in Reims center a short walk from the rail station, and has a good tour of the cellars before the tasting.

Taittinger is in Reims but quite a long walk from the station, it is well worth seeing because it has some incredible old pyramidical cellars hand cut out of the chalk by the Romans.

You will probably find it difficult to do more than two winery visits in one day in Reims since you'll want to go on a tour conducted in English, you'll probably need 90mins - 2 hours per house -( I hour for tour, 30 mins for tasting and some time in the gift shop etc) and they close for lunch.

I'd plan on Mumm & Taittinger, both in Reims center, (and if time, Pommery which is near Taittinger) both good tours, interesting cellars and very good wines. There are some Champagne shops in Reims by the cathedral which offer tastings -- the cathedral is very historic and worth seeing and the tourist office next to it has maps of the Champagne houses and details of visiting -- but I suggest you do your research before hand and check when the Engllish language tours are running -- see http://www.maisons-champagne.com/traduction/english/limach_gb.htm for links to teh Champagne houses websites

If you went to Epernay there are many Champagne all next to each other down one road and you can walk out of one and right into the next one.

Champagne's biggest market is the UK, its less than 2 hours drive from the channel ports, so they are very used to English speaking visitors, English is widely spoken, and all the larger Champagne houses speak English.

You'll have a great time. Don't forget to order a glass (or bottle?) of Champagne with your lunch in Reims....

Answer 2

I went to Mumm and Veuve Clicquot this past spring and had a glorious time. I would say that Mumm was a better time. Our tour guide was really well-informed and interesting. Also, you can try a lot of their very special vintage champagnes (for a higher price). I can still taste the champagne--it'll probably be the best champagne I ever had! Have a wonderful time!

Answer 3

Veuve-Cliquot Ponsardin, Pol Roger and Louis Roderer. Might as well go and drink the very best as well as the most expensive! You might also consider Salon. Forget Tattinger, Perrier and Veuve-Cliquot.

Answer 4

What I'd do is pick one that you know you like, and 2 others that you don't really know that well. My top 3 would be Mumms, Tattinger, and Pommerier.