Top 10 things to do in Champagne France without a car

We visited the Champagne region in France without a car. We flew to Paris and took the train from the airport to the train station in the city Reims. Reims is located in the Champagne district.

Top 10 things to do in the Champagne region, without a car

1. Stroll around in the beautiful city of Reims.
We stayed in the centre of the city at the Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix. It was an ordinary hotel with a great location.
Make sure you book a hotel with air condition if you travel during the summer.  

2. Visit the Champagne houses in Reims. There are many you can visit for a tasting and or a wine cellar tour. Some also show their production.
I recommend that you reserve the tastings and the wine cellar tours in advance. 

My recommendations are:

• Pommery. They have daily tastings and a nice shop to buy some souvenirs to bring back home. I bought some lovely Champagne glasses.
• Champagne Lanson, https://www.lanson.com/index-en.php 
• Champagne Mumm, https://www.mumm.com/fr-fr/
• Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin - Visitors Center, https://www.veuveclicquot.com/en-au/practical-informations
• Champagne Louis Roederer, https://www.louis-roederer.com/fr
• Champagne Taittinger, https://www.taittinger.com/en
• Champagne Krug, https://www.krug.com/
  

3. Visit the Cathedrals in Reims. There is a free light show in the evenings close to one of the Cathedrals.

4. Visit the wine cellars. Reserve a wine cellar tour or two.
Picture from one of of the wine cellar tours

5. Visit the one of the Champagne production sites and the wine yards. You can book a tour in advance.

6. . Take a taxi and go to the nearby town Epernay. We stayed at a lovely small luxurious hotel that had a wonderful garden. The name of the hotel is Au Jeu de Paume, address; 8 Rue du Paulmier. https://www.aujeudepaume.fr/

This hotel was such a nice place to rest after a day on the Avenue de Champagne (the Champagne street).

Make sure you book a hotel with air condition if you travel during the summer. 

7. Visit the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. There is a street with a lot of the famous Champagne houses. You can visit them for a tasting. I recommend you to reserve the tastings in advance if you have any favorites you would like to visit.

You can visit for example Moët & Chandon, Pol Roger and Eugène Mercier. 

My favorites after the tastings were 

• Moet et Chandon, https://www.moet.com/en-int
• Mercier, https://www.champagnemercier.com/en/legal
• Champagne Boizel - Atelier 1834, https://www.boizel.com/en/
• Champagne Collard-Picard, https://www.champagnecollardpicard.fr/en
• Paul-Etienne Saint Germain, https://www.pauletiennesaintgermain.fr/en/home-champagne-paul-etienne-saint-germain/

8. Take a taxi from Epernay and make a short trip to HAUTVILLERS - the village of DOM PÉRIGNON. This village is the birthplace of Champagne. It is a beautiful small village. You can take a lovely walk, and eat a nice lunch in one of the restaurants and visit the shops. https://en.reims-tourisme.com/visites-guidees-d-hautvillers-village-de-dom-perignon/hautvillers/fmacha051v50iktc

9. Cheese tasting. Buy french cheeses in the supermarket or a food shop and arrange your own cheese tasting, or go to a restaurant and ask them for a selection of their best cheeses.

10. You are very close to Paris so I suggest you end your trip with a day or two days in Paris. Walk around in the beautiful city, and do not miss the Seine and the Eiffel tower. 

South African wine yards in pictures

I really like the South African wine regons and not only because of its wine. The view and scenery is so beautiful. Isn´t it? Here are some pictures from my trip to South Africa in 2010.

Flowers and wine yards in Stellenbosch

Thelema wine yard

Top 10 South African Wine Estates

If you love the sea, nice weather, great food and wine, book a holiday to Cape Town in South Africa and you will get everything in one place.

You can rent a car or take a tourist trip with a tourist company to the wine district close to Cape Town.
My favourites are Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.


There is a short overview on: http://www.wineanorak.com/saregions.htm



My top 10 South African Wine Estates to visit are:

1. Rust en Vrede was established in 1694 by the then Governor of the Cape and has won many awards for its wines. President Nelson Mandela selected Rust en Vrede to be served at the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize dinner in Oslo, where he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Vergelegen established in 1685. It has won many international awards and is one of the most historic estates in the Western Cape.
3. Meerlust has a beautiful historic manor house and a nice wine shop. The  estate is producing a variety of fine wines such as Rubicon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Red and the Meerlust Chardonnay.

4. Delaire Graff Estate, endulge in luxury. Wine tastings, spa, restaurant and lodge. The boutique hotel is gorgoeous with private pools and there is a elegant restaurant where you can have lunch.
5. Alto, another awardwinning wine estate which has won several awards for its wines.
6. The name Kanonkop is derived from a kopje (hillock), from which a cannon was fired in the 17th Century. The estate has a long history and has also won several international awards for its wine.
7. La Motte has won interantional awards for its wines. There are several beautiful historical buildings on the estate and a lovely restaurant and museum. Classical conserts are held in the cellar. Check their website, see link above, for dates and times.
8. Plaisir de Merle is a historical farm from 1693. The estates is famous for its wines and the scenery and nature is lovely.
9. The Groot Constantia wine estate was founded in 1679 and it is South Africa’s oldest wine estate. It has beautiful buildings and lovely surroundings.
10. Avontuur Estate has a wine tasing room, mediterranean restaurant and amazing view from the estate.
11. Thelema wine yard. Very nice staff & wine tastings.
12. Annandale
13. Graham Beck
14. Boschendale
15. Rupert & Rothschild
16. Nederberg