Champagne Weekend (Self Drive to Ay)

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Champagne Weekend (Self Drive to Ay)

Champagne Weekend (Self Drive to Ay)

17 - 19 April 2009, 30 October - 1 November 2009, 4 - 6 December 2009

Our innovative programme of self-drive trips is aimed at the more independent traveller, who would still like to spend a couple of days in a party being taken to Champagne visits in the company of a local wine expert. The wine guide will advise you on buying a good selection of champagnes at good prices direct from the wineries.

Champagne stretches from around Troyes in the south (in the sub-district known as the Aube), to Reims in the north, which is in the Marne district. The vineyards of the Marne are the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs (where the white grapes are concentrated) and the Vallée de la Marne.

You book your own travel arrangements and everyone joins the tour at the hotel on the first evening. This gives you the freedom to decide how you wish to travel and for how long. The excellent value of these trips means that, combined with taking advantage of any special travel deals you might find, you still have the peace of mind that the actual tour part is put together by a fully bonded, professional tour operator. If you book hotel elements etc. yourself directly via the web, you generally have no financial or legal comeback. The first evening includes an informative introductory tasting with your Wine Guide, Champagne Vigneronne Caroline Brun.

Our base for the Self Drive weekends is the Grand Cru rated village of Aÿ - Champagne villages and vineyards are subject to a complex quality rating and a Grand Cru rating denotes that the vineyards are of the highest ranking. Aÿ is home to Bollinger, Gosset and many less famous but great value growers. On the first day there are visits to two small Champagne poducers in Aÿ with a convival lunch at one of them. The accomodation is a simple B&B owned by a small Champagne House.

On the Sunday depart at leisure - or drive into Reims or Epernay to a visit to one of the famous houses such as Moet & Chandon on the Avenue de Champagne.

The nearby town of Reims is also home to many of the great names in Champagne: Krug, Roederer, Veuve Clicquot, Pommery, Taittinger and Charles Heidsieck are a few examples that have their cellars here. It has a long and interesting history. It was very important in the Latter Roman Empire and there are several monuments still in evidence dating back to that era.

Extend your stay

Drive to Reims or Epernay before or after the tour to visit other more famous Champagne Houses is a great extension to the more personal small Champagne Houses that you will visit on the tour - in Reims for example there is Moet & Chandon on the Avenue de Champagne.

Travel to the region before the tour starts on Friday evening or stay a little longer and Arblaster & Clarke can book your accomodation at the two star B&B for just £28pp per night. Alternatively upgrade to a 3* Manor House owned by a small Champagne producer for £62pp per night.

To upgrade your rooms for the entire tour to the Manor House 3* Arblaster & Clarke can offer a discounted rate of £90pp in twin/double.