We’re excited to have arrived in Reims by train ready for our private Tour of Taittinger Champaign house curtasy of a family friend from NZ.

The region is beautiful and feels very different to Paris.

The tour started with a video explains the history of the company, after which we were taken for a tour of the cellars by our guide.  Dating back to the 4th century, the caves which are now used as the cellar for the vineyard were carved out for the purpose of extracting blocks of chalk before being used years later as the cellars of the St Nicaise Abbey.  It would be frightening to get lost in these cold, dark, damp network of connecting cellars, crypts and vaults as it becomes very disorientating to navigate.  It was amazing to visit and is a hugely popular tourist destination as its considers of of the greatest expressions of Gothic architechure.

Taittinger is one of the last great Champagne houses to have retained its independence and bear the name of its owners and managers, guaranteeing its expertise remains intact and of a style characterised by a high proportion of Chardonnay, synonymous with finesse and elegance in the Champagne region. With its 288 hectares of vineyards, among the largest in Champagne and run using the most environmentally-friendly techniques, Taittinger guarantees a flawless signature and wines recognised worldwide for their consistent quality.