Culture tasting in Champagne

For lovers of the world's merriest wine, a visit to Champagne is almost an obligation. Of course you come there for the bubbles, but there is more to do than just visit wine cellars. Discover culture, gastronomy and much more with us.
Text: Château-Petri | Image: Lanson

When WINELIFE travels, it is to taste wine. Also in Champagne. But between tastings, it's always nice to soak up some culture. Our trip starts in Reims, the region's capital. Besides visiting Maison Lanson, the city itself was on the programme. Highlight: the imposing cathedral Notre-Dame de Reims, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is surrounded by vineyards, including those of Lanson.

The cathedral, larger than Notre Dame in Paris, is world-famous. Not only because an endless line of French kings have been crowned here, one Louis after another Charles, but also because the cathedral is filled to the brim with magnificent medieval statues. The most famous is that of the angel with the smile, the ange au sourire. That smiling face is seen everywhere in Reims, as it is seen as a symbol of the city. The angel smiles at you everywhere, from biscuit tins, fridge magnets and cooking aprons in all the tourist shops. She is even depicted on the label by a champagne house!

Chestnut on your plate

After visiting the cathedral, we are quite hungry. And where else but in France, are marrons confits on the menu? You know, those caramelised, sweet chestnuts with a creamy bite that you pop straight into your mouth. The perfect accompaniment to this typically French delicacy is a demi-sec champagne, which matches it best in terms of sweetness. We tasted the combination at Brasserie Le Jardin, awarded a Bib Gourmand.

After Reims, Épernay is scheduled, smaller and more intimate, and beautifully situated on the banks of the Marne. This town breathes wine, it is surrounded by rolling hills full of vineyards. To really understand the phenomenon of champagne, a visit to the Musée du Vin de Champagne et d'Archéologie Régionale is a must. Above all, take a few hours to immerse yourself in the region's culture. The museum starts at the beginning, with the geological past of the region where the unique terroir originated. At the fossils, in other words. That sounds stuffy, but it certainly isn't, not least because the museum is housed in Château Perrier, a former trading house on the Avenue de Champagne.

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