Sparkling Wine Trip - France and England, Itinerary and Tips

Travel, Wine Tourism, and Restaurants Forum
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Hi All - planning my wife’s celebratory “kicked cancer’s ass” trip for July, and wanted to share our current itinerary and get insights on anything we’re missing or suggestions to skip.

We have two other couples traveling with us, they’re tastes are more mainstream - so we’re doing a mix of the larger houses with some less well known/growers…a nice blend.

Champagne - staying in Epernay. Will have a van that we’re renting, so getting around shouldn’t be too much of a challenge…parking might be another issue.

Missing from itinerary, would love help/suggestions on how to potentially visit: Pol Roger, Krug, Perrier Jouet, Charles Heidsieck and Roederer.

day 1: Paul Bara, Billecart Salmon, Bollinger

day 2: Tattinger, veuve clicquot, Pommery, Ruinart

day 3: TBD

day 4: leclerc briant, moet, Boizel,

Travel, Paris & London in between…

day 7: English Sparkling
day 8: England Sparkling
day 9: English Sparkling and Cliffs of Dover

Itinerary not hammered down, but here’s who we’re looking to book with at this point. Would love alternative suggestions.

Gusbourne, Wiston, Chapel Down, Nyetimber, Roebuck, Hambledon and Ridgeview.

Thanks all, welcome any and all feedback!

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First off, congratulations to your wife kicking cancer’s ass! And welcome back to the board.

A couple years ago, I had a quite nice English sparkler from Black Chalk. English sparklers are hard to find in Indiana, so I haven’t had anything since. But there are some good things going on with UK sparkling wine, thanks in part to climate change.

Here’s an informative site to help plan your visit:

https://www.winecellardoor.co.uk/directory/map/

Cheers,
Patrick

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What? No Vilmart!

Paging @Frank_Murray_III

Kicking Cancer, big celebration!

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Thanks for the suggestion - haven’t tried Black Chalk yet, our options are still very much lacking here in the Pacific NW too for English Sparkling…who knows, maybe this trip will inspire us to become importers! :joy:

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Tinwood Estate is a decent UK sparkler.

Tinwood Ln, Chichester PO18 0NE, United Kingdom

Tinwood Estate
+44 1243 537372

https://g.co/kgs/8NEPk4

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Congratulations, Dustin, to your wife and to you. We are in a similar position and, after cancelling our annual fall in Paris in 2020 due to Pandemic and 2021 due to cancer, we returned last year and celebrated good health in our favorite city in the world (tied with London and New York). It was especially sweet, and I wish you the same. Best good health wishes to your wife!

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as you’ll be near Dover, this might appeal Dover Secret Wartime Tunnels Collection Highlights | English Heritage

Sorry no accommodation recs for Champagne. The place we stayed in Rheims was ok but no more.

If driving to London, via the Chunnel, then there’s a lovely (and slightly quirky) wine shop about 30 mins drive away https://www.hallesdequercamps.com/ that’s been something of a favourite with the wine pages crowd. It’s oddly located and when we first visited, looked like a small garden centre from the outside. Head in through the modest sized food shop to a superb selection of wines.

Also, near Ridgeview, is the heritage ‘Bluebell’ steam railway, which might be a pleasant diversion from the wine focus.

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Great recommendations - will have to add them to round things out!

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Thank you Mark and glad you made it back in good health! Similar for us - last European trip was Winter 2019, long overdue!

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Perfect, we will add them to the list - thanks Brig!

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Vilmart is on the standby list for sure!

Indeed it is, and no better way to celebrate than some nice bubbles…