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Champagne:
Aube is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Champagne.
The territory making up Aube was first attached to France in 843, following the Treaty of Verdun. After the allied victory over Napoleon at Waterloo the department was occupied by Russian troops between June 1815 and November 1818. In 1911, following the revolt of the Champagne producers, a series of major riots erupted in Aube. Dozens of serious injuries resulted. In 1919, by a new decree, Aube wine producers were authorized to produce champagne.
Champagne from the department of the Marne is found on on Cretaceous grounds, Champagne of the Aube is on Jurassic grounds. They are thus particular champagnes. This area of Champagne of the Aube groups(includes) the other nearby municipalities as Riceys and Bar-sur-Seine. Their naming "Champagne" dates to wine growers' revolt which wanted to be connected there and not to be considered any more as Burgundy.
Troyes dates back to the Romans and became an important center on the trade routes north and to Italy right thru the the French Revolution. The counts of Champagne chose Troyes as the capital of the Province of Champagne at the end of the 9th century, Ww get the weight standard Troy from here. Henry V was supposed to to take over the city in the mid 15th century but the Joan of Arc retook the city for the Dauphin.
Louis XIV was keen to break the Murano monopoly on Mirrors so he sent spies to Venice and then built glass factories in Saint-Gobain and in Bayel to supply for Versailles and other palaces. Bayel had the advantage of being in the heart of 16 000 hectares of forest which were exploited by the Monks of Clairvaux and allowed for a regular supply of wood for the Ovens. Royal Crystal of Champagne is one of the most foremost French factories of blown crystal and has continued it patrimony through the years and has never switched off its ovens since the XVIIth century.
Champagne
Champagne Drappier is one of the more well know brands in the Southern part of Champagne and their cellars dates back to the 12th century.
In 1129 the Knights of the Temple was created by the Council of Troyes. They are one of the most well known Western Christian military orders of the Middle Ages, and consisted of up to 20,000 members at their peak. The Templars built fortifications in the Holy Land, and across Europe, and were heavily involved in economics, finance, and an early form of banking. They became more powerful than the kings and posed a serious threat. The Order of the Templar lives on through various secretive and not so secretive societies today. Even though most of them were finally killed or executed, their rituals and symbols live on through Freemasons.
Bernard de Clairvaux was a powerful supporter of the Templars and his Cistercian Order benefited greatly from their protection as they expanded the production and distribution of their wine business. This is the heritage of this region's Champagne.
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In depth Tasting Tour
This tour concentrates on one particular region called Cote des Bar know for its Pinot Noire, a black skin grape which thrives in the a cold limestone terrain. These grapes are distinguished by their red berry aromas
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In depth Champagne Visits and Commented Tastings in Bar sur Seine
Private tours : All Year
Available : Daily
Duration : 12 hrs
Includes :
*Transportation in a comfortable minivan
*English speaking guide
Itinerary :
Morning in Bar sur Seine:
Pick up from hotel in Paris or with supplement take the train and get picked up in Troyes.
First Tasting Visit
Visit one of the prestige producers housed in an 19th century mansion. considered one of the most prestigious Champagne in the Aube and served in 3 star Michelin restaurants like Pierre Gagniere and Guy Savoy as well as Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Corriagan's Mayfair London's 2010 Restaurant of the year awarded by Decanter magazine, so you know it must be good and from personal experience I can attest to that,.
We follow with a visit to the largest Maison de Vignerons since 1956 in the Aube bringing together 130 wine growers covering about 325 hectares with 90% producing Pinot Noir. The soil, vines faces south-south east with sheltered exposure so the grapes can be harvested at full maturity and fill around 750,000 bottles a year.
Second Tasting Visit
At about 11:30 am we will arrive at the largest Maison de Vignerons since 1956 in the Aube bringing together 130 wine growers covering about 325 hectares with 90% producing Pinot Noir. The soil, vines faces south-south east with sheltered exposure so the grapes can be harvested at full maturity and fill around 750,000 bottles a year.
Here you will see the mega large Aluminum tanks and have a brief overview of the company and Coopérative where Pinot Noir is the specialty. You will then enter the a small room in the cellar where you see the soil samples and do a tasting of the clear wine for introduction to the evolution of the process and tasting from clear to final product.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the side of the Seine or in the vineyards with enough notice and minimum of 4 people.
Afternoon
Third Tasting Visit
Visit the heart of the Cote des Bar in the little village of Les Riceys filled with narrow streets and old stone houses and churches. It is the only are in Champagne which is allowed to producer 3 AOCs. Champagne, Coteaux Champenoise and the Rose de Riceys a red "still wine" with an extraordinary orange/red color. This is the wine that Louis IX loved. Not Champagne as we know it today. We will spend time with the owner of a small family estate who will introduce to his wine and Champagnes in his cellar.
If time, at the end the day we will stop by medieval Troyes home to the Order of the Knights Templar for a cup of tea before heading to Paris, Epernay or further south to Burgundy.
This is a truly interesting tour which combines champagne tastings and the historical culture that supports the champagne growers from the crystal making used for flutes to the cellars created by the monks of Clairvaux to store the wine in the 12th century.
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Wine, Champagne and History
Private tours only: All Year
Available: Daily
Duration: 2 Days / 1 night
Includes :
*Transportation in a comfortable minivan
*English speaking guide
Day 1 :Bar sur Seine
This tour concentrates on one particular region called Cote des Bar know for its Pinot Noire. This black skin grape is found in the Montagnes de Reims as well and thrives in a cool limestone terrain. The grapes is distinguished by its red berry aromas
Morning:
Pick up from hotel in Paris or with supplement take the train and get picked up in Troyes.
Visit one of the prestige producers housed in an 19th century mansion. Considered one of the most prestigious Champagne in the Aube and served in 3 star Michelin restaurants. You will be invited to their private tasting room for a presentation of the Champagne appellation and brand. This will be followed by a 45 minutes guided tasting of 2 Rosés Champagnes and 2 Bruts : the first one three years on Lees and 5 years for the second.
Second Tasting Visit
At about 11:30 am we will arrive at the largest Maison de Vignerons in the area where you will see the mega large Aluminum tanks and do a tasting of the clear wine for introduction to the evolution of the process and tasting from clear to final product.
Lunch at a local restaurant on the side of the Seine or in the vineyards with enough notice and minimum 4 people.
Afternoon
Visit Les Riceys which is allowed to producer 3 AOCs. Champagne, Coteaux Champagnoise and the famous red "still wine" Roses de Riceys a red "still wine" and a favorite of Louis XIV. We will spend some time in the cellar of a small family estate and do a tasting.
Evening:
We will recommend a lovely restaurant within walking distance from your 4 star hotel. You will have time to discover some other Regional favorites and heritage like due to its history Troyes is also know for its textile industry, famous stain glass windows and workshops, Prunelle of Troyes, Jacquot Chocolate, Cider fro mm the Pays d'Othe, AOX Charouce Cheese, the famous AAAAA Andouillettes and Briennois Sauerkraut.
Day 2: Bar sur Aube
Morning: We' ll start the day with a visit to the Crystalleries Royale in Bayel the oldest glass maker in France. first set up by a Venitian glass maker from Murano in 1666. Here you will visit the glass blowing and factory which supplied mirrors to Versailles as well as other palaces up until 1727. The glass is of very high quality resources in the areas. The furnaces have never been turned off. The glassworks still produces special orders for Veuve Cliquot, Perrier Jouet, Deutz, The White House, Ritz Hotel and famous luxury brands. Bayel produces the "Grain d'Orge" a champagne flute for Moet and the famous Epernay hollow stem glass.
1st Cellar Visit
We now visit Champagne Drappier in Urville since 1808 and its 12th century chalk Cistercian Cellars. Formerly supplier to General de Gaulle and makers of the largest bottle of Champagne in the world weighing in at 27 liters. Here the bottles are turned by hand every day. The house specializes in Pinot Noir and balances it with Chardonnay forms its vineyards in Cramant.
Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon
We will spend the rest of the day in the northern part of the Cote de Bar in Bar sur Aube with an interesting visit to a small family producer where you will see the original vaults used by the monks to store the wine and the little chapel above it.
We then drive to the Abbey of Clairvaux to see the vaulted arches and and the old prison built by Napoleon Bonaparte. If you like photography you find some amazing things to photograph. Remember to bring your passport as it is required to enter the complex as the real prison is next door.
Appreciate the differences between the Champagne regions. Experience the tradition and challenges producers face producing the World's most famous wine.
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Aube + Blancs de Blancs + Marne Valley + Montagne de Reims
This tour concentrates on the 2 most well known regions in Champagne for the day.
Sample Itineraries
The following can be condensed and combined for the perfect visit.
Day 1 Visit one of the prestige producers for a private tasting of 2 Rosés Champagnes and 2 Bruts followed by a visit to the largest Maison de Vignerons to see the mega large Aluminium tanks and a tasting of the clear wine to final product to illustrate the the evolution of the Methode Champenoise - Lunch on the river bank of the Seine - Visit to Les Riceys filled to sample the Rose de Riceys a red "still wine" loved by Louis XIV - overnight in Troyes
Day 2 Optional visit to discover the Cistercian, Napoleonic and Glass Producing history of the area with 2 cellar visits and tastings.
Day 3 Discover 2 Grand Cru Producers on the Cote de Blancs - Lunch in a quaint restaurant in Epernay - Cellar visit to Moet et Chandon or Private visit to Dom Perignon followed by visit to pay hommage to Dom Perignon in Hautvillers and visit to a small producer tasting in a Premier Cru Village. Return to Paris or overnight in a hotel or Champagne producer in the area.
Day 4 Marne Valley Visit a Premier Cru produce in the morning followed by a special tasting visit in wine cellar for a 6 glass comparison tasting - Lunch at Le Grand Cerf Visit to Billecart Salmon and overnight in the area.
Day 5 Montagne de Reims Exploration of Montagne de Reims and visit to 2 family estates and tastings - Lunch in Reims - Visit the chalk cellars of Ruinart or Veuve or Taittinger and end the day with a visit to the UNESCO Cathedral before returning to Paris.
