The Luxury Travel Magazine
The Luxury Travel Magazine
With global champagne consumption only increasing annually, French fizz is still firmly seated high on the list for celebration must-haves. But if you’ve ever wanted to get to the bottom of how it all began, there’s nowhere better to do so than at the heart of the production line. The French region of Champagne is home to some of the world’s most coveted vineyards. Of the most iconic of the bunch is that of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, distinctive by their iconic yellow labels.
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame champagne tour is an experience of discovery- a guided tour that gives guests a taste of history. The tour is all about La Grande Cuvée: a champagne produced in honor of Madame Clicquot. Throughout the four-hour experience, guests are given a taste of the champagne house’s history, a look into their production process and, of course, a sample of the world-renowned champagne they produce.
When Madame Clicquot was widowed in 1805, she was left in control of her husband’s champagne house in central Reims. At the early age of twenty-seven, Madame Clicquot fronted the movement of art-driven labeling, creating the yellow branding that makes Veuve Clicquot bottles so distinctive even to this day.
Her most important contribution to winemaking was her invention of the riddling rack- a contraption that allows the storage of champagne bottles in an upside-down position. This method allows the yeast to collect in the neck of the bottle and agitate the champagne gently, achieving a crystal clarity that was not possible before.
Less than a two-hour car ride away from The City Of Lights, Reims is the ultimate wine-making destination on the northeast side of Paris. Of all the regions in Champagne, Reims is best known for its fuller-bodied champagnes and is often the location to find Champagne’s best vintage bottles. Besides bubbly, Reims is a great destination for some excellent sight-seeing.
Reims is home to the Cathedral Notre-dame de Reims, Basilique Saint-Remi and Palais du Tau, all of which exhibit the gothic architecture that Reims is known for.
The tour itself is led in English and begins with a guided discovery of the Crayeres- the House’s Unesco World Heritage listed wine cellars. From there, guests are led through the vineyards of Verzy, home to the Pinot Noir grape that Madame Clicquot believed offered the best palette for the finest of champagnes.
Once guests have learnt about the history and production of the world-famous champagne, they’re led back to the Maison for the most anticipated segment of the whole experience: the tasting. Guests are offered the chance to sample both La Grande Dame and La Grande Dame Rose for something a little pink.
Veuve Clicquot is made with 100% chardonnay grapes and aged in oak barrels for at least three years, which is what gives the champagne its full-bodied tasting notes. The piece de resistance in this experience is La Grande Dame cuvée, a champagne created in homage to the House’s beloved Madame. This is real treat for champagne lovers: a vintage from 2008 that showcases the Maison’s expertise when it comes to Pinot Noir grapes. As a cuvée, it is greatly focused on minerality, with a well-balanced palette and a creamy texture. Guests will notice fruity notes as the wine opens up, with notes of citrus and pear.
While it might be tempting to visit champagne right in harvest time, this is probably when many wine houses will actually be too busy to welcome visitors. A big name like Veuve Clicquot will have tours available all year round, however September remains extraordinarily busy, and the Maison is flooded with those eager to see the most vital step of wine production. For a more intimate experience, April to June are the best months to book a tour. You won’t be able to just show up and wander around however; La Grande Dame tour operates strictly by appointment only.
With guests experiencing a great mix of storytelling and wine sampling, La Grande Dame tour is sure to delight any champagne lover or history buff. Four delicious hours of touring the production cellars and vineyards are sure to warm up the tastebuds just in time for a glass of Veuve Clicquot’s beloved fizz.
