It has to be done. Visit the rolling countryside of Champagne for the weekend. Fly into Paris, hire a car, and nip down the motorway to Epernay. This wonderful part of the world, is still very much off the beaten track. The Champenois are most obliging, friendly and extremely generous. As you drive along the "route du Champagne" you will see signs saying "accueuil, vente du Champagne", which really means, come in, have a glass and chat with us! Cellar door sales our very well priced and you will pick up a Grand Cru Champagne for €12/€13 Euro. We have some wonderful Chamapagne friends who are based in the grand cru village of Ay "Richard Fliniaux" . You absoloutely must check out their website as they sell on line and will post it to you in Ireland/EU. They also have some gorgeous gites for rent in the village. www.richard.fliniaux.monsite.wanadoo.fr) Another place to look at is www.tourainechampenoise.com . Again, a family run village inn in the village of Tour s/ Marne, modest lodgings with a great restaurant open for lunch and dinner.
Here is a profile on the current situation of the vines in Champagne, It came in early this morning from Benoit Bonnerave of Marguet Pere et Fils, Ambonnay.
"Here in Champagne our weather has just been amazing (hot and very sunny) until three weeks ago, and the vines grew very fast. The amount of work has been huge in the vineyards.The blossom is now going on and is a little bit delayed with the rain and cold temps , but it seems harvest is still planed around 20th August, which never happen in the last 2 centuries I would say.
It is too early to say if it will be a vintage, but it looks like we won't take lots of holiday this year".
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