Locations & Travel in Champagne
Almost every champagne lover will at some point in his life refer to the Trip to visit the rolling hills in the heart of France. To where the noble vines produce their golden blood.
For the writer of these lines, this (unfortunately) means a trip around the world. Most European connoisseurs have it better. It takes just three to four hours to cover the excellently developed route between Saarbrücken and Reims. The journey leads through areas that appear both beautiful and uninhabited to the eyes of a German city dweller.
And a trip is worthwhile, not only for champagne lovers! Although it would be a sin to disregard the noblest treasure of the country during a visit. We want to give you some seasonal tips that may help you determine the date of travel:
* April:
Winter has just gone and already the vines are coming back to life. The juices shoot into the cut back branches, which are now tied one by one. All over the country you can see the winegrowers doing this activity, which they prefer not to leave to inexperienced helpers.
* May:
The first warm rays of sunshine. Now in the vineyards need to prune the weak shoots, so that the strong vines are supplied with enough nutrients.
* June-July-August:
The quietest time of the year! Most of the work is now done by the sun. The winemakers just make sure that each vine and branch catch enough of it. Time enough to indulge in the pleasures of the mostly warm summer.
* September:
The harvest begins and with it a busy life. In the best sites with the most precious vines, grape harvesters now go through the rows with their shears, just as in the old days. "Full harvesters", as they are mostly found in industrial viticulture today, are considered inappropriate for this work.
* October:
The golden month. While in some vineyards the harvest is just coming to an end, in others the hardest work of all is already beginning: the old vines, which have often borne for 40 years or more, are pruned out and make way for new growth.
* November and December:
months devoted to care. Now it is also necessary to protect the soil from too severe frost in the following months. In some locations, special plant mixtures are planted in the rows of vines for this purpose. Often, however, a warming cushion for the sensitive roots is created with interspersed straw.
* January - February - March:
King Frost, or often simply Baron Drizzle, reigns here. The winegrowers use the time to celebrate. This is also how St. Vincent comes to be honored as the guardian of the vineyards, to whom a particularly solemn day is dedicated.
As you can see, each season in the Champagne their charm. The wineries there are hospitable and often enough offer programs for the interested visitor! One of many examples would be the winemaker A. Jacquart et fils. Here, a visit is especially worthwhile during the harvest season in September. It combines expertise with culinary delights:
A cellar tour on three levels:
- Mechanical reumage on the first level.
- Overview of, among other things, the disgorging and dosage on the second level
- On the third level there is, among other things, a classic 4,000 kg "Vaslin" horizontal press.
- As well as a tour of the stainless steel tanks.
- A little champagne course
- A wonderful lunch.
But even with smaller goods a stay is worthwhile. Here you can often find excellent Champagne discover. If you enjoy just such discovery tours, you should not miss the Route de Champagne.