Relaxing at the Ay Festival

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Relaxing at the Ay Festival

Ay Festival

4 - 6 July 2008

The greatest of all the Champagne villages celebrates once again with this bi-annual event. There is a tremendous atmosphere in the village as growers and Houses throw open their doors to festival goers, with many of them hosting parties, with different styles of food on offer for you to sample and music to suit all tastes. As well as all the ‘drop in tastings’, we are organising some private, more extensive tastings.

On the first evening we have a comparative tasting, as always. On the day of the festival we have a morning visit to Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin in Reims for a visit and tasting, then travel to Aÿ. We arrange a tasting at one of the leading smaller cellars, Henri Goutorbe. This is the only Champagne grower to have been awarded ‘French Vigneron of the year’ by Guide Hachette. The Special Club is a consistent winner in our tastings. We will have an informal but extensive tasting, probably in their gardens.

Last time A&C clients gravitated to Bollinger of course, where you can treat yourself to the magnificent Grand Année’ if you wish. Roger Brun needs no introduction to A&C regulars, with their La Pelle’ single vineyard and lovely rosé. The Brun’s love hosting parties, and theirs is often the last to finish.

The festivities continue until late. (We have a couple of transfers back to the hotel). Next day we have a lunch visit to André Jacquart on the “Côte des Blancs”. After lunch we head home.*