Champagne Winemaker Trip with Martin Vander Weyer and Jonathan Ray, 6-10 April 2025

After the thundering success of our Spectator Wine Club tours to Bordeaux, Champagne and Hungary last year, we’re delighted to announce the schedule for 2025 and encourage you to join us.

Led by drinks editor Jonathan Ray and, as in previous years, business editor Martin Vander Weyer joins to this 'access all areas' trip doubling the fun.

You will visit top Champagne houses – several of which don’t normally welcome visitors – and drink wines not normally on offer. You will mingle with fellow Spectator readers and, we promise, will not go thirsty. Think of our tours as roving and very genial, modestly-sized drinks parties.

All our trips are overseen by our good friends at Kirker Holidays, the multi-award-winning luxury travel specialists. Do join us!

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Champagne, 6-10 April 2025

DAY 1: We head to the Champagne region in the fastest and most convenient way, travelling from St. Pancras by Eurostar to Lille. Here we will be met by our coach for the drive to Reims in the heart of Champagne, arriving mid-afternoon. We will then check into the 4* Hotel de la Paix, which is perfectly located in the centre of the city and will be our base for the duration of the holiday. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore the town. This evening, Jonathan Ray will host an introductory Champagne tasting at the hotel, before dinner together at a local restaurant.

DAY 2: Today we will have a guided tour of Reims including the magnificent Reims Cathedral, setting for the coronation of many monarchs of France. We will have a private tasting at Pol Roger in the afternoon, before we visit the beautiful cellars at Taittinger, which date back to the Roman period. Driving to their Château de la Marquetterie near Épernay (pictured), we have a fabulous private dinner.

DAY 3: This morning, we will drive to the historical heart of Champagne in the village of Aÿ, where we will visit the famed Bollinger, one of the few remaining family houses, which has been independent since 1889. We have a tour and tasting and then continue to Brimoncourt, whose headquarters are located in an old printing works designed by Gustave Eiffel. We will return to the hotel in the afternoon and the rest of the day will be free in Reims and dinner will be taken independently, or you may wish to join Jonathan and Martin at their choice of restaurant.

DAY 4: Today we travel to Épernay for a morning visit to the charming small champagne house of Henri Chauvet, where we have a tasting with owners Mathilde and Damien Chauvet. Their traditional chalk cellars were constructed in 1892 and are situated 11 metres below ground, allowing for perfect maturation conditions at a constant temperature of 10˚C. We will then continue to one of the titans of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot, whose Maison is normally firmly closed to the public. We will taste some of their delicious wines before a special farewell dinner this evening at the Brasserie du Jardin, which will be accompanied by carefully selected Champagnes.

DAY 5: This morning, we will depart the hotel after breakfast for a leisurely drive back to Lille and the lunchtime Eurostar from Lille to London.

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£3,159 (£270 single supplement)

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

Eurostar: Depart London St Pancras 11:04, arrive Lille 13:26. Depart Lille 13:35, arrive London St Pancras 13:57

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

Return Eurostar in Standard Premier Class

Transfers and entrance fees throughout

Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast

Three dinners and two lunches with wine

Four wine-tastings at Champagne producers

The services of Spectator writers Martin Vander Weyer and Jonathan Ray, as well as a Kirker tour escort

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For information speak to an expert at Kirker Travel on 0207 593 2284

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