We take sourcing our raw ingredients and products seriously - we want to make sure that we have the best range and quality for our customers.
Exploring one of the ways we put the ‘fizz’ in Bean & Fizz, and to build our exquisite drink offerings, we ventured across to France to explore the Champagne Region and its many vineyards at the start of the 2018 harvest season.
Here’s a map showing the location of some of the champagne houses and vineyards we visited:
Locations (clockwise from top): Canard-Duchêne, Pierre Trichet, Moët & Chandon, Le Gallais
Highlights:
Exquisite Moët & Chandon champagne house with a really extensive cellar - their attention to detail was second to none during the Grand Vintage Tour and tasting we joined
A lovely vineyard/B&B called Pierre Trichet we came across when driving along some of the backroads from Épernay to Reims - although it was a busy time during the harvest the owner invited us in for a tasting and told us about their champagnes with such pride
Being there for the harvest, a stroke of luck with an early harvest announced this year!
Top 5 tips:
Book tours in advance and arrive on time; tours start promptly, and if you are late you’ll miss the interesting context setting introductions
On tours of champagne houses and vineyards, dress with the cellars in mind; it is usually around 10-12 degrees Celsius (50-54 degrees Fahrenheit) so a jumper is definitely required
Lots of the smaller vineyards are shut on Sunday, so reserve Sundays for the larger more corporate champagne house visits, or for your own R&R!
Leave an afternoon (or full day!) to stroll down L'Avenue de Champagne in Épernay and stop off for tastings along the way; many of the champagne houses have an area to sit inside or outside, some with lovely courtyards (e.g. Venoge and Boizel)
If you’re doing a lot of tasting, but also need to travel, make sure you keep it safe and nominate a designated driver, or hire a taxi to take you between vineyards
