RED RIDING HOOD

From the Route de Chimay in Belgium, we continued towards France to Route de Champagne.

It is the region in the north-western part of France with the main cities of Reims and Epernay – as the center of the champagne agriculture.

We were driving through hidden villages of north – western France, admiring the green landscape mostly covered with vineyards and blue sky under which many cows were finding its peace.

Oh France, how lovely you are!

Our destination was the Beaufort family, some 35 km away from Epernay, living in the hills of Champagne and producing its own certified Beaugort champagne since 1599.

Atrium of the Beaufort family

Beaufort Family Tree

Upon our arrival, the host decided to treat us with a glass of champagne rose, served in the atrium of his house. The champagne came as a refreshment since it was 36 degrees.

After the refreshment, small discussion about the vineyards started and soon we were introduced to the art of creating the wine. As a girl coming from the vineyard region itself and having vineyards at hometown of Krapina, Croatia, I have soon ended up in a discussion with our host about wine producing.

Shortly after that, we followed our host to his cellars for the industrial part of creation of a champagne and botteling.

mde

The cellar was long, called and claustrofobic but we learned a lot about the process of creating the champagne. For the beginning, I have learnt that the grapes can be white or black, no matter, because anyhow the skin will be removed, what gives the juice the colour.

Then, the wine is stored i to bottles with yiest and turned every couple of days in order to get bubbled. Finally, when all the yiest segmentizes and the neck of the bottle, the special machine is inserted into a bottle which freezes first 3 centimeters of the champagne and pulls out the yiest.

Finally the champagne is ready to be served!

In the end, my friend and I bought some products of champagne from our host and we manage to get a photo with a champagne in a bottle of 110 cm. Talking about a big things 🙂

That kind of size of a bottle is usually given to a winner of Formula 1 race.

For me, it was a day of the champions!

My friend and I finished our tour de champagne heading to the city of Reims throug the Valley of river Marna. The sun was up and still hot.

We decided to give a tour throgh the city of Epernay and have a local dinner there. Of course, with a glass of champagne.

Au revoir!

To be continued in Reims, France.

2021

My new visit to Route de Champagne included visiting with my mother! ❤ Having in mind that we have our own small production of the wine at home, for personal use only – this trip was the full kick!

We were driving through the region and admiring the landscape of the vineyards. With 360- degrees view of the viticulture, we checked the sorts and tasted the grapes. It was end of September, so the fruit was mostly collected and already stored for the wine process. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the chardonnay and pinot noir still hanging there to try.

This time we visited the cellars of Bochet-Lemoine in small village of Champagne region, called Cormoyeux. The lady that hosted us with champagne tasting, guided us through the cellars which are family business for more than 100 years.