Life in the Chateau: A first in Champagne !

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Oenotourism – or wine tourism – has been developing famously for the last few years in France. No bad thing in view of how the French vineyards have lagged behind others such at Italy, America, and South Africa who had stolen a march on France to promote their wines but also the whole concept of lifestyle around their wines. Today the great Bordeaux chateaux open their doors to you (Lynch Bages, Pavie, Smith Haut Lafite…), as do the estates in the Rhone Valley (Famille Perrin, Chapoutier…) as well as in Provence. The great names in wine have gradually been coming around to the idea everywhere in France. Or, to be more precise, everywhere in France except Champagne.

For until Champagne de Venoge announced the launch of their CHAMPAGNE EXPERIENCE last week, no champagne house received the public within its walls for one or more nights. Though the champagne houses are not many in number – only 80 members of the prestigious Union des Maisons de Champagne – only VIP visitors have had the privilege of being a guest in the magnificent mansions of Epernay, Reims or elsewhere in Champagne. The opening of a unique place, offering the possibility of passing one or several nights within the walls of Maison de Venoge is therefore a first in Champagne. It is in the heart of Epernay, in a magnificent nineteenth century private mansion on the prestigious Avenue de Champagne, that the de Venoge champagne house has just inaugurated “Les Suites du 33”. Four cosy and comfortable rooms that have, since the month of September, welcomed visitors who have come from all around the world to admire the Hillsides, Houses and Cellars of Champagne which have been inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. And the icing on the cake, a champagne bar, “L’Ecurie”, completes this offer of hospitality!

Promoting the art of French hospitality, with its combination of luxury and refinement, well there’s an initiative that will no doubt inspire many other champagne houses in the coming years. It will go down in the annals that Champagne de Venoge was, once again, a pioneer in this sphere. “Noblesse oblige!” might had cried Henry-Marc De Venoge, who founded the Maison in 1825.

More information here: Stay in the private mansion of a Champagne House