After bidding my family au revoir, I took the train from Strasbourg to Reims where I met up with my classmates as they were settling in from their US flight. As this was a business school trip, there were quite a number of enterprise focused meetings during most of our days where we sat for long PowerPoint sessions. However, being that we were in the Champagne region, it was hard for any of us to focus on school as our collective minds were on all the bubbly we would bathe ourselves in once the class bell rang. I mean, if Marilyn Monroe could do it, why couldn’t we?

Champagne was one of the first regions in the world to write laws surrounding geographical and production restrictions in order to protect their wine. These restrictions make it unlawful for sparkling wines from other regions in the world to be called “Champagne.” If the bubbly you’re popping for your birthday, the holidays or brunch didn’t specifically come from the region of Champagne, France, it is, in fact, not “Champagne.” On that note, I really hope you’re not ruining good Champagne by using it in your endless mimosa and avocado toast brunches. There are other sparkling wines you can use for that purpose that are far more respectful of the Champagne making craft. I’ll tell you more about how to know what sparkling wine to pick for what event, and the differences between them all in another post. 

The first order of business on our first night in Reims was to have an “Old World Tasting Party” at our hotel’s rooftop and share my family’s bounty with my classmates. We sampled some Crémant d’Alsace, which is Alsace’s sparkling wine, some Bordeaux, Pinot Gris, and delicious Rosés from Provence. Needless to say, I became quite popular with my classmates and some faculty. My milkshake may not bring all the boys to the yard, but my wines sure do. 

When we were not discussing the European economy and its impact on export prices to the US, some of my classmates and I snuck out and took advantage of the region and headed to Epernay, the heart of France’s Champagne country. I mean, how could we not? We walked along what is known as the world’s most expensive street, Avenue du Champagne, and took a tour of Mercier. Their underground cellars, built between 1871-1877 and cover an impressive 18 kilometers (11+ miles) worth of underground tunnels filled with rich Mercier history, are Champagne’s most toured grounds today with over 100k visitors a year. After touring the cellars filled with racks and racks of aging Champagne, we ended our tour with a spectacular Brut and Rosé tasting like the true kings and queens we are.

the King of champagnes

On the last day of our program in Reims, before we moved on to the next city on our agenda, our faculty had a special surprise in store for us. This day was centered around the luxury market, and the prestige and influence of some of the world’s most recognizable and fashionable global brands. The school had a special contact in LVMH, the company behind Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, and Hennessy. Not only did we get to discuss business with high level executives in the luxury segment, but we were all treated to a FABULOUS, white glove, four course lunch at the Moet & Chandon Mansion, with non-other than Richard Geoffroy, the chefe de cave and man behind Dom Pérignon for the last 20 years. A meal paired, of course, with Moet & Chandon. Outside of dinner at the Oscars or the White House, I imagine that this lunch is perhaps one of the most spectacular and unbelievably stunning meals anyone can ask to be a part of. I could not think of a more stellar way to end our program in France than to have the opportunity to sit down with a legend and get to know the history and style of such an iconic brand. That is, of course, until we moved on to a Dom Pérignon cuvée tasting.

What is distinctive about this Champagne, and the reason it surpasses any other, is that Dom Pérignon Champagne is only made in spectacular vintages. Every release is made from the very best fruit, from the very best lots, in only the best of years. If in any particular year the harvest is not good, or the grapes are not of the outmost quality, Dom Pérignon simply isn't made that year. Other Champagnes are comprised of blends from different vintages and are released year after year without pause; Dom Pérignon, on the other hand, is only made when all factors are recognized as being simply the best of the best. It is this distinction that makes this The King of Champagnes.

Dom Pérignon, the man, was a French monk who lived in the late 1600’s and is credited with making important contributions to the production and quality of Champagne. We wrapped up our day by touring his monastery, the Abbey Saint Peter of Hautvillers, as well as some of the caves that store and age the Champagne. While the company’s operations take place in a different location, it was wonderful to see where the story started, and how the small town of Hautvillers is keeping the spirit of Dom Pérignon alive.

This trip to Champagne was, by far, one of the most incredible adventures I have had to date.  It absolutely set things up for what would be the magic that is Paris… (stay tuned for more…)