We took the 45 minute TGV from Paris to Reims for a day of Champagne tasting. Reims is a powerhouse in the Champagne industry - many of the great houses were founded in the city. This is mainly due to the miles of chalk quarries beneath the city first built by the Romans and added to throughout the centuries by the French. The caves, as they are called, keep the air the perfect temperature to store the delicate Champagne.
We toured three houses: Taittinger, GH Martel and GH Mumm.
Taittinger was by far the prettiest. The caves had lofty ceilings and were stark white. The facility we toured housed 3 million bottles, while their main storehouse in the center of Reims housed another 19 million. The tasting was rather impersonal and consisted of only one glass of brut.
GH Martel was the most personal. The tour guide was very friendly and passionate about Champagne. The company no longer ages it's Champagne in the Reims location, but the tour was still very informative. The caves are filled with equipment from Champagne making past. We sampled three glasses in an informal tasting room where we all sat in miss-matched chairs.
GH Mumm was by far the most polished. The lobby was bigger than our apartment and more grand than a five-star hotel. The caves held just as many bottles as Taittinger but lacked the tall ceilings that made Taittinger memorable. The tasting here was the best. We opted for the mid-level tasting with two Champagnes you can't get out of France.
A trip to Reims is a must for any Champagne lover.
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