Champagne is an interesting word. It conjures up many different emotions and thoughts in one's mind. The sparking wine associated with weddings, promotions, New Year's Eve, and many other celebrations is probably the first thing that pops up - pun intended! Champagne is a region in France that produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes blended and fermented to make the regionally protected Champagne wine.
To get to Reims, France - one of the major cities in the Champagne region - we took the TGV. This high-speed train is very cool, although the ticket machines only work if your credit card has a microchip. I learned this the hard way and missed the morning train. Nevertheless, we caught the next one and zoomed across the French countryside at 200 MPH. It was smooth and quiet. I cannot wait until the California high-speed rail system is built. I may be on the first ride.
Since time was limited, we visited only Tattinger. There are several well known houses in Reims - Tattinger, Mumm, Veuve Cliquot - each with underground caves originally mined by the Romans in the 4th century for chalk used in paving roads. The tour explained the history of Champagne started by the monks and priests and perfected over the years to create a special wine. A brief tasting was included at the end.
Anyone familiar with California wineries will be somewhat disappointed. Fellow visitors recommended renting a car and driving around to the smaller local wineries for a more intimate and fun experience actually in the vineyards. Tours and designated drivers are mandatory since drunk driving laws and penalties are much harsher in Europe. Maybe next time.
I took a video of the TGV ride back which is a cool way to describe the train. I bought a small bottle of Champagne to drink on the ride back and created quite a loud pop when I opened the bottle in such a small place. Even though Champagne has a reputation for celebrations, it is a great anytime wine and pairs well with many foods. Plus, the sparking bubbles make any place a celebration! Enjoy the rest of my sparking photos below.
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