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The Decanter Guide to Champagne: A Weekend in the Cradle of Bubbles

Decanter is the world's leading wine magazine, based in the UK, covering wine culture and travel globally.

The route

12 stops·7 wineries · 2 restaurants · 2 hotels · 1 activity

1. 01

   Hotel

   Arrival in Reims & Check-In at Hôtel de la Paix

   Park your bags at this grand four-star hotel in central Reims, perfectly positioned for champagne house explorations.

2. 02

   WineryGrand Est

   Taittinger

   Elegant, Chardonnay-forward champagne housed in 13th-century chalk cellars that feel like a medieval wine cathedral beneath Reims.

3. 03

   Winery

   Ruinart

   Chalk tunnels that predate the vineyard itself make Ruinart, founded in 1729, the oldest Champagne house with the most theatrical cellars.

4. 04

   Restaurant

   Le Foch

   Perfect for pairing local Champenois dishes with grower Champagne in a leisurely, relaxed brasserie setting.

5. 05

   WineryGrand Est

   Krug

   Krug's Reims headquarters crafts prestige cuvées through multi-vintage blending, best explored on an intimate appointment-only visit.

6. 06

   WineryGrand Est

   Veuve Clicquot

   Historic cellars stretching nearly 24 kilometres showcase Champagne's most storied house and the riddling technique that changed wine forever.

7. 07

   Activity

   Drive the Montagne de Reims Champagne Route

   Wind through Pinot Noir villages like Bouzy and Ambonnay on the D951, where sweeping vineyard views reveal the region's premier and grand cru character.

8. 08

   WineryGrand Est

   Egly-Ouriet

   Francis Egly's old-vine grand cru Pinot Noir in Ambonnay delivers serious concentration and pure terroir expression.

9. 09

   Restaurant

   Le Grand Cerf

   Michelin-starred Le Grand Cerf in Montchenot pairs refined regional cooking with an exceptional Champagne cellar.

10. 10

    WineryGrand Est

    Pol Roger

    Épernay's Pol Roger crafts impeccably precise champagnes, including the legendary Sir Winston Churchill cuvée, in cellars as elegant as the wines themselves.

11. 11

    WineryGrand Est

    Moët & Chandon

    Pop into Champagne's most-visited house to explore Dom Pérignon's legacy and how serious bubbles get made at scale.

12. 12

    Hotel

    Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa

    Perch yourself above Champillon's vineyards at this five-star luxury retreat with Marne Valley views that'll make your Instagram weep.