Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars, UNESCO World Heritage vineyard region in Reims and Aÿ-Champagne, France
The Champagne hillsides sprawl across rolling terrain with carefully maintained vineyard rows aligned on steep slopes throughout the region. Below ground, extensive chalk cellars tunnel beneath vineyards and towns, while above ground stand historic wine houses and producer estates.
Wine production in this region traces back to early medieval times, though sparkling wine techniques emerged in the 17th century when monks at Hautvillers refined the craft. These innovations transformed it into the world's premier champagne region.
The Avenue de Champagne in Épernay shows how champagne shaped French identity and local pride, with grand mansions belonging to major producers. Walking through reveals how this wine has defined the region's character and daily life for centuries.
The region connects easily by train from Paris to Reims or Épernay, with frequent departures throughout the day. Most wine houses and cellars require advance booking for visits, especially during harvest season in autumn.
The chalk cellars tunnel for kilometers and partly developed from Roman-era stone quarries that carved through the soft rock. These caves maintain naturally steady temperatures perfect for fermentation without modern cooling systems.
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