Sooner or later, almost every champagne lover feels the urge to visit the rolling hills in the heart of France, where the noble vines produce their golden juice. The places and trips in this picturesque region are known for their outstanding wines and champagnes, and it is an unforgettable experience.
The route from Saarbrücken to Reims, for example, is excellently built and can be covered in just three to four hours. The drive takes you through landscapes that feel as impressive as they are peaceful, especially if you come from a big German city. The gentle hills and wide fields of Champagne offer a fascinating contrast to urban bustle and invite you to open your eyes and enjoy the calm of nature.
Places and trips in Champagne are not only rewarding for dyed-in-the-wool champagne lovers, though. The region offers far more than first-class sparkling wine. The picturesque surroundings, the charming villages and the historic atmosphere make every visit a special experience. It would almost be a sin to ignore the region's finest treasure, champagne, but the beauty and appeal of the landscape and its culture are reason enough to visit in their own right.
When you plan your trip, the seasons can play an important part. Each time of year offers something different. In spring the vines come into leaf and the landscape glows in fresh green, while summer lets you enjoy the lush growth of the vineyards and the many festivities. Autumn shows itself in magnificent colours and is the time of the harvest, which gives a fascinating insight into wine production. Winter is a quieter time, when you can experience the region in a stiller, more contemplative mood.
These seasonal differences can help you choose the best moment for your visit, depending on which aspects of the region interest you most. Whether you want to see the vineyards in bloom in spring, the lively summer festivals, the colourful harvest or the calm winter landscape, every season has its own charm and its own appeal.
All in all, places and trips in Champagne are a valuable experience for all the senses. The combination of impressive nature, fascinating history and the chance to enjoy the famous champagne in its home region makes this a truly unforgettable destination. It is worth planning the trip well and taking the time to discover the many sides of Champagne at your leisure.
Champagne by the month
- January, February, March: Here King Frost rules, or quite often just Baron Drizzle. The growers use the time to celebrate. This is also when St Vincent, the guardian of the vineyards, is honoured with a particularly festive day dedicated to him.
- April: Winter has only just gone and the vines are already waking to new life. The sap rises into the pruned canes, which are now tied up one after another. All over the countryside you can see the growers at this task, which they prefer not to leave to inexperienced helpers.
- May: The first warm rays of sun. Now the weak shoots in the vineyards have to be removed so that the strong ones receive enough nutrients.
- June, July, August: The quietest time of the year! The sun now does most of the work. The growers simply make sure that every vine and every shoot catches enough of it. Time enough to give yourself over to the pleasures of the usually warm summer.
- September: The harvest begins, and with it a busy time. In the best sites with the most precious vines, the pickers walk the rows with their secateurs, just as in the old days. Mechanical harvesters, as they are mostly found in industrial viticulture today, are considered unsuitable for this work.
- October: The golden month. While in some sites the harvest is only just coming to an end, in others the hardest work of all is already beginning: the old vines, which have often borne fruit for 40 years or more, are pulled out to make room for the next generation.
- November and December: Months devoted to care and maintenance. Now it is important to protect the soil from severe frost in the months to come. In some sites, special plant mixtures are sown between the rows for this purpose. Often a layer of straw is also scattered to make a warming cushion for the sensitive roots.
Places and trips for a special champagne tour
As you can see, every season in Champagne has its own appeal. The estates there are hospitable and often offer programmes for interested visitors! One of many examples is the grower A. Jacquart et fils. A visit is especially worthwhile during the harvest in September. It combines expertise with culinary pleasures:
A cellar tour on three levels:
- Mechanical remuage on the first level.
- An overview of, among other things, dégorgement and dosage on the second level.
- On the third level you will find, among other things, a classic 4,000 kg "Vaslin" horizontal press.
- As well as a look at the stainless steel tanks.
- A short champagne course.
- A wonderful lunch.
But smaller estates in these places are also well worth a stay. Here you can often discover excellent champagnes. If you enjoy this kind of exploring, you should not miss the Route de Champagne.
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