A Special Visit
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
This time on my trip returning from my home 7 hours from Calais I decided to visit Taittinger in the town of Reims. The website has a few options but of course when visiting a Premium Champagne House there has to be a Special visit with Food Pairings. My visit cost was €80 so for me I felt it was worth it with two of the Champagne Tastings along with the Pairings.
Starting with the Tour of the Cave just as I had been on a visit before to Veuve Clicquot A walk down the spiral stairs this time and an introduction to the House and how the accident of "Bubbles" came to be from the Monks producing wine. From the History of the Taittinger family being the only Champagne house who are still named independently as the ONLY House with the same family ownership currently headed by Vitalie Taittinger, I felt extremely proud to be able to visit this historical area underground and enjoy this experience.
When the group was ready we went down more stairs and the chill hit you (so wear a cardigan or long sleeves) because these caves are all still in use. Miles and miles under the town of Reims, just as they are used in Paris! Millions of bottles held from Standard to Magnums in two areas they hold. A few hundred thousand are stored here and turned by the Riddler many times in the week. It's an amazing life of chilled caves to walk through and see where people once hid from the bombs of world war II where the old monks used to come down from their quarters into the cellars of the original Cathedral the house is now built on.
As we walk through we see on the walls the inscriptions of where people stood and carved in the walls for good luck and survival. Then at the end of tour we are thankfully able to return to the ground level by elevator. Into the Bar area and where you see the Creative bottles from artists of past.
You then go into a wonderful room set up, professional and designed as a tasting room for the next part of the package. Here you see presented Salmon, Chick peas, Pureed Celery and a Dessert for the sweet to match the two Champagne tastings a Prestige Rosé & Vintage Brut that were provided by Ollie our English guide currently offering his knowledge for a few months at the house whilst out of Uni.
A lovely visit and I feel my best House yet although I'm onto others soon so stay tuned :)
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