- Wine Tour Destinations
Region: | Champagne |
---|---|
Type of Tour: | Hidden Gems |
Duration: | 3/4 Days |
Guide Price: | From £643 to £1090 per person |
Number of Meals: | 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch (3 days) 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner (4 days) |
Number of Winery Visits: | 3 Champagne Houses (3 days) 5 Champagne Houses (4 days) |
Number of Wines Tasted: | Approximately 14 Champagnes (3 days) Approximately 21 Champagnes (4 days) |
Tour Transport: | Full day transported tour (3 days) 1 Full day transported tour, return taxi transfers to Reims and 1 visit on foot in the village (4 days) |
Dates / Availability: | Available mid-week and weekends throughout the year. Please note that the Château’s restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays (as well as Tuesdays from November to the end of March). |
Around half of our trips are completely bespoke. Our expert team would be delighted to discuss your requirements and create your perfect trip.
Contact Us**IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR 2023**
This package is currently unavailable but we would be delighted to put something together for you on a bespoke basis, please contact us at info@grapeescapes.net or give us a call on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66.
Whether you are looking for romance, rest or relaxation, enjoy a serene stay in a traditional, Premier Cru Champagne-making village at the 4* Château de Rilly. Due to the remote location of the Château, having acess to your own vehicle is strongly recommended and we have included return Eurotunnel crossings as part of the package. Having access to your own vehicle is particularly important if you are staying across a Sunday or Monday, when the Château’s restaurant will be closed. The nearest restaurants are located in Reims and Epernay, which are a twenty minute drive away.
On day two, you will be met at the Château by an English-speaking driver/guide for a full day tour as part of a small group (maximum eight people). During the course of the day, your guide will regale you with tales and anecdotes of the history of Champagne and its vineyards, introducing you to the particularities of the region. You will start the day in style with a tour and tasting at the world-famous Moët and Chandon estate. You will also stop at the famous hilltop village of Hautvillers, the “cradle of Champagne.” As well as admiring the spectacular views across the vineyards, your guide will take you on a tour of the village, visiting places such as the Church where Dom Perignon is buried. After such an enlightening morning, you will then be taken to a beautiful private mansion for a unique Champagne tasting masterclass. As well as having the opportunity to taste the three principal grape varieties, a light lunch will also be served. In the afternoon, you will visit a small family-run Champagne House and after a tasting session of their Champagnes, you will enjoy a traditional French aperitif. You will be taken back to the Château at the end of the day.
For those staying an additional night, day three offers you the chance to visit your favourite Champagne House in Reims and we will arrange for return transfers from the Château to the city centre. Subject to your dates of travel / availability, options include Taittinger, where two Champagnes will be served, GH Mumm to taste their Blanc de Blancs and Blancs de Noirs Champagnes, Pommery to sample two Champagnes, Ruinart to taste Ruinart Blanc de Blancs or Ruinart rosé followed by their flagship Prestige Cuvée Dom Ruinart, white or rosé and Veuve Clicquot, to enjoy a flute of their celebrated La Grande Dame. Please note that some of these Houses (particularly Veuve Clicquot and Ruinart) are very popular and offer very few tours, therefore early booking is essential.
After returning to the village in the afternoon, you will be welcomed at the estate of a boutique Champagne maker. As well as having a tour of the property, you will learn the Napoleonic art of Sabrage (the art of opening the Champagne bottle with a sword). Since you will open your own bottles, you will then need to drink at least some of the Champagnes that have been opened. Learning Sabrage is a tremendously fun and festive activity and not only is it a fantastic photo opportunity, you will also have acquired a new party trick to entertain your friends and family at home with! You can see Sabrage in action on our You Tube channel.
In the evening, a four course dinner (excluding drinks) will be served in the Château’s gourmet restaurant.
(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot beguaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.
The owner was very attentive and chatty which was nice.
Karen- Newcastle, UK
Hotel Name | Room Grade | Star Rating | Duration | Price Per Person | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Le Château de Rilly - Rilly-la-Montagne | Standard | 4* | 3 Days | £683 | Book Now |
Le Château de Rilly - Rilly-la-Montagne | Standard | 4* | 4 Days | £1090 | Book Now |
Please contact us to request further details and a full list of tour upgrades.
If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of France! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.
The price of this package includes Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel crossings. Please see our travel page for other travel options and further information about travelling to your Champagne wine tour.
For more information on our Hidden Gem breaks please see our Hidden Gems page.
To secure your booking, a deposit of £100 per person is required (or 20% if the price of your trip exceeds £500 per person). Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or email info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.
"Very organised & enjoyable - love it! Can't wait to go again!"
Nadia- London, UK
Celebrating a birthday, wedding anniversary or engagement? Our expert team would be delighted to talk you through the options and create your perfect trip.
Contact Us