Champagne Wine Break, Special early booking offer

This two night Champagne break gives you a concentrated snap-shot of the region in the company of a Champagne vigneronne who has been a friend since the early days of our visits to the Champagne region. A chauffeur will join her, therefore avoiding the worry about driving to the vineyards and deciding whose turn it is to navigate/drive. Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours have been escorting clients to Champagne since 1987 and our experience in Champagne is unrivalled.

Often, just turning up at a winery can be a disappointment as there is no one home, no one who speaks English and the array of tasting wines is not the same as you get when travelling with A&C! Your local Champagne expert will also advise you on buying a good selection of Champagnes at good prices direct from the wineries.

Champagne, just south of Paris, stretches from around Troyes in the south (in the sub-district known as the Aube), to Reims in the north, which is in the Marne district. The vineyards of the Marne are the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs (where the white grapes are concentrated) and the Vallée de la Marne.

The Champagne region is just 280kms from Calais all on un-cluttered motorway, so it is an easy drive, should you choose to arrive by car, which of course makes it easy to transport your Champagne purchases back with you. You can also easily reach the region by train to Reims or Epernay, where we will arrange to pick you up.

So, if you have a reason to celebrate, want to give your loved one a surprise present, have a big party coming up that you want to stock up on Champagne for, or you simply fancy an indulgent couple of days – this is an excellent solution!

Accommodation is in a 3* Manor House Hotel, owned by a leading Champagne grower, with its own small indoor pool set in one of the traditional Cru villages.

Outline Itinerary

Day One
Own arrival to the 3* Manor House Hotel in Ay. (The nearest train station is Epernay or Champagne-Ardennes, from where you can arrange a taxi on arrival, or self-drive via Dover/Folkestone for a drive of about three hours).

There are simple restaurants in the village, or the hotel will arrange a taxi (payable locally) to one of the Michelin starred restaurants in the region.

Day Two (this cannot be a Sunday)
Breakfast
This morning our local Champagne Expert will meet you with a chauffeur and car or “people-carrier” for a drive around the Montagne de Reims to visit the Grand Cru villages nearby, such as Aÿ, Bouzy, Dizy, or on to the Côte des Blancs for the villages of Cramant, Le Mesnil and Avize, where the Chardonnay grapes thrive.

You will taste at two small family run houses and have a tasting of the Non-vintage at one of the famous names.

In the company of our wine guide and the comfort and safety offerd by a chauffeur driven car, you will not only have a very enjoyable and relaxing day, (without having to worry about map-reading and whose turn it is to drive!) you will also learn lots and taste some wonderful Champagnes!

At lunchtime your wine guide will take you to an excellent traditional restaurant along the route where you can choose from the menu and from the wine list. (Payable on the spot in cash or by credit card).

During the day your local guide will also take you to the attractive wine village of Hautvillers where the monk Dom Perignon lived and worked.

Return to your luxury base at the end of the afternoon.

Free evening to dine where you wish.

Day Three
Breakfast
Return at your leisure.

Accommodation

You will stay in a 3* Manor House hotel owned by an award winning champagne vigneron in Aÿ (with an indoor pool but no bar or restaurant). Please note that the restaurant choice in Aÿ is limited, though in Epernay and a couple of the villages around, there is a good selection.

These prices are based on: EARLY BOOKING (No later than 14 weeks before departure and to the EXACT itineraries shown).

For last minute bookings (IE within 14 weeks) or for ABSOLUTELY ANY alterations to the above, we will be pleased to provide verbal quotes over the phone. However, please be aware that prices will be very significantly higher to these extremely special offer early booking package rates.

2010 Based on 3* Manor House Hotel, standard rooms, From May – July 2010. Not possible in August. For September – November 2010, add 15%.
Price per person based on six participants, in twin/double: £459.
Price per person based on four participants, in twin/double: £595.
Price per person based on two participants, in twin/doubles: £1010.

Travel

Travel is not included, so that you can make your own arrangements depending on where you are travelling from.

How to Book:

Deposit:

Please provide us with a deposit of £250 per person by debit or credit card (credit cards incur a 1.5% bank charge, but there is no charge for debit cards) at time of booking request.

Price based on standard twin/double and the number of participants as shown
Includes:
Two nights in 3* Manor House Hotel, twin/double share in standard room
Breakfasts
Chauffeur driven car or mini-van with driver for day out (09.00 – 17.00)
Local Wine Guide to escort the day out (09.00 – 1700)
A&C restaurant notes, Champagne notes and Champagne maps.

On receipt of the deposit we will check availability and confirm to you within 2 working days or sooner.

If your first choice of date is not available, we will offer alternatives and if these do not suit you, your deposits will be refunded in full, by return.

Please note that if you book for 4 but only 2 travel, or 6 but only 4 or 2 travel, the per person price is that of the remaining party size, plus loss of deposit for those who drop out of the party.

Final balance is due no later than 10 weeks before departure and all other Arblaster & Clarke terms of booking apply.
(All prices are net web offers and not available in our brochure or via travel agents).