Champagne France - French Regions and tours

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The Champagne region lies about a hundred miles northeast of Paris. The river Marne flows through much of it and the main urban centres in the region are the town of Eparnay and the city of Reims. It’s a fairly northerly district in which to grow wine and the long winters and cool summers mean that in winegrowers’ parlance it’s a ‘marginal’ climate for grapes. Seasonal shifts can have severe repercussions; a nasty winter can kill the vines or late frosts can damage the grapes.

This climatic fragility combined with the chalky soil has always ensured that the wines grown here were slightly peculiar. The main quirk was their tendency to effervesce, which was initially seen of as a flaw rather than strength. Developments in the manufacturing process allowed this fizz to be harnessed and become an essential ingredient of the wines and the Champagne region became synonymous with the drink that bears its name.

Enjoy a Champagne Break in Rural France

The region itself isn’t that picturesque and doesn’t draw as many visitors as other areas of France. In fact most people who visit it do so because of its association with the drink. There are hundreds of small champagne producers and many of the growers also bottle their own blends and sell them on a small scale to nearby towns and visitors. For this reason champagne connoisseurs will happily spend holidays exploring the region and stopping off at vineyards to sample some of the local product.

Find Cheap French Champagnes from the source!

This is a good way to get some deals as lots of the local champagnes will never make it to the shops over here. Many of the major producers are based in Reims and it’s possible to visit a number of them for free to sample (and buy) their champagnes. Epernay is also a popular destination for pilgrims hoping to get to taste some of the local bubbly and is home to a number of the prestigious champagne maisons.

Serious champagne-heads might want to consider joining an organised tour of the whole region. There are plenty of companies out there that offer a week or so in the region with accommodation and visits to the champagne houses and some of the local growers. You can also cycle or walk the region and the locals are generally very welcoming, especially if you’re serious about your wines.

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