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Luxury barge trips in France’s charming Champagne region are famous for many things, but none more so than tasting the delectable sparkling vintages for which this area is renowned. Reims is known as the capital of the region and if that title was awarded for the town with the most Champagne houses alone, then it was a given it was awarded to Reims. Thankfully, this wine lover’s delight will be on the agenda of any of the luxury barge trips in France’s wine growing heartland. With so many houses from which to choose, we have narrowed down a list of our favourites. Veuve Clicquot Producing a tipple very well known the world over, you may be forgiven for thinking that this place will be on the touristy side. But while it can be busy, it doesn’t detract from the wonder that lies within the walls. The underground cellars are the highlight of the trip and they have earned World Heritage status. The winemakers have been producing their bottles since 1772, and in 1909 they purchased the underground quarries and made them into storage cellars for the vats. The place sings with history and the tour is comprehensive, personable and thoroughly enjoyable. Taittinger As you wander up to the dominating gates of this classic Champagne house, you won’t be able to resist stopping for a photo. The tour here begins with a video that details the history of the producers and its particular wine making style. A stroll into the fourth-century chalk mines (which have also recently gained a World Heritage status) precedes a walk through the remains of the Saint Nicaise Abbey. From here you descend 18 metres into the caves built into the chalk where the wine is stored. This liquid gold is aged for many years before hitting the market shelves. Pommery A relatively new addition, this estate is a nineteenth-century construction orchestrated by Jeanne Pommery and built in an Elizabethan style. The lady of the house also initiated the production of the Champagne. In true regional style, the vats are kept in chalk cellars that lie deep underground - a mere 116 steps down if you would like to visit. The tasting is particularly special here and is enjoyed in gorgeous art nouveau tasting rooms. Celliers Ruinart The classically elegant shape of the Ruinart Champagne bottle is a work of art and almost reveals exactly how it should feel to drink any of these wonderful sparkling vintages. A guided tour includes a visit to the cellars, an informative presentation on the history of the Ruinart Champagne and, of course, a tasting of two cuvées: Dom Ruinart and one Millesime (rose or blanc de blanc). If you’re considering any of the luxury barge trips in France and are a lover of all things history, art, architecture and wine, then this is the region (and indeed the Champagne house tour) for you. Home to the deepest cellars in the city, this house offers a delightful experience that takes around two hours. Wine and barge cruising are the perfect complement to each other and we believe that Champagne is the icing on the cake when it comes to choosing a region for luxury barge trips in France. Book with an operator that is well versed in the region and you are in for a treat. Author Plate Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways, the UK's most respected provider of all-inclusive luxury barge trips in France. Part of a team of experienced barging aficionados, Paul is first in line to endorse the perks of a slow-paced barge cruise to anyone looking for a unique holiday experience.
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