France self-drive holidays

At a glance

Trip Summary

This evening, you may wish to dine in the Château’s on-site gourmet restaurant or alternatively, we would be very pleased to reserve you a table at one of our partner restaurants in Epernay, which is a 20 minutes’ drive from the Château.

After breakfast on day two, you will be met at the Château by an English-speaking specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. You will be transported in a spacious Mercedes Viano-style vehicle and your guide will follow the necessary safety procedures whilst regaling you with tales and anecdotes of the history of Champagne and its vineyards, introducing you to the particularities of the region. You will firstly stop in a vineyard to learn about the work undertaken here, and the tour is designed to be as hands-on as possible. Here, your guide will explain the grape varieties permitted in Champagne and the yearly cycle of the work carried out in the vineyards. You will also pass through Hautvillers, the famous hilltop village where Dom Pérignon himself lived and is buried.

You will then visit a small, family-run producer of Champagnes for a private tour of the fascinating Champagne-making process from press to bottle, and at least three tastings. A lunch with a glass of wine, water and coffee will then be served in a local restaurant. After lunch, your guide will take you to another family-run estate, situated in another of the principle regions of Champagne. After a private tour of the House, you will taste Champagnes in contrasting style to those tasted during the morning.

For the last visit of the day guests are free to choose their favourite large, prestigious Champagne House in Reims for a tour and a flute or two of their Champagnes. There are several options subject to your preference and availabilities, including Taittinger, GH Mumm, Pommery, Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot. Please note that a number of the more exclusive estates do not tend to receive visitors at weekends and some of them do not receive visitors at all. We would be pleased to discuss the various options with you and contact the individual estates accordingly.

In the evening, we will reserve you a table for dinner in Château de Rilly’s restaurant. You will be able to order à la carte and payment can be made locally.

For those who would like an additional day of activities and opt for the four night package, e-bikes will be delivered to the Château on the morning of day three. From here, take a picturesque 10km ride through the vineyards (if you would prefer a private driver instead, just let us know and we will provide you with the relevant supplement). Your ride will conclude with a visit to a premium, up-and-coming boutique Champagne House. Your private tour will be followed by a delicious three course lunch served in the private dining room, alongside a selection of three of the estate’s Champagnes. After cycling back to the village, enjoy a second private tour and tasting at a Champagne House located close to the Château. In the evening, a light dinner of platters of cheeses and meats will be served with a final glass of Champagne at the Château (on your own balcony or terrace if preferred).

After a leisurely breakfast and check out on day three, drive back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. If you would like to extend your trip to France and visit other regions (for more wine or just to relax), we would be delighted to provide inspiration.

Region Map

Outline Itinerary

Day Three (optional)

• After breakfast, e-bikes will be delivered to the Château. Your tour day will comprise of:
• A private tour and three course lunch with tastings at a boutique Champagne House.
• A private tour and tastings at a second Champagne House.
• In the evening, a light dinner with a glass of Champagne will be served at the Château.

Final Day

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and make your way back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed 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.

Package Prices

• Please note this tour features Château de Rilly which is currently closed. This tour will be possible based at an alternative 4* or 5* accommodation in Champagne. Please get in touch to discuss options with our team.
• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.

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Further Information