LAND OF THE LIQUID GOLD In between rounds of golf, there are
plenty of opportunities to experience the region’s famous product—champagne. The “sparkling wine” is traditionally made using a blend of three varieties of grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meuni- er. Once the juice is extracted, champagne undergoes two fermentation processes, first in casks and the second after the wine has been bottled and had sugar and yeast added. This allows the carbon dioxide to get trapped in the wine, giving rise to those famous and distinctive bubbles. Non-sparkling wines are only fermented once in casks. An excellent way to learn more about
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With the recent news that France will host the Ryder Cup for the first time in 2018 on Le Golf National course near Paris, the sport is certain to grow by leaps and bounds in this tourist-friendly region.
the champagne-making process is to ex- plore the signposted roads that make up the Route Touristique du Champagne (Cham- pagne Tourist Route)—370 miles total, divided into various circuits that meander through the region’s principal wine-grow- ing areas including Montagne de Reims (between the two champagne centres of Reims and Épernay), Côte des Blancs (south of Épernay) and further south, the Côte des Bar, specializing in smaller champagne producers that welcome thirsty golfers. The provincial town of Épernay is the best place for champagne tast- ing, and underneath the streets of the “capital of bubbly,” in some 60 miles of subterranean cellars, millions of dusty bottles of sparkling wine are maturing side-by-side until one day popped open in celebration. Épernay is home to some of the world’s most famous champagne houses such as Moët & Chandon, De Castellane and Mercier, the most popular brand in France. Many of them are situated on or near the Avenue de Champagne and offer entertaining, informative tours followed by tastings. Well worth a visit in nearby Rue Gambetta is the bar and cellar combo
of C. Commes Champagne, where you can sample champagne by the glass. Fifty small independent winemakers from 50 villages in the main regions are represented and each week they feature a selection of
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