Burgundy and Rhône with Raj Parr

After a private transfer from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport or Épernay train station, a glass of the finest sparkling Champagne awaits us at a private château, an architectural jewel built in 1801. This stately private home backs up to a wooded hillside in the village of Chouilly overlooking the Marne valley from Épernay to Châlons, just visible on the horizon. This exclusive property is reserved for royalty and distinguished guests; we’ll meet up with Rusty and toast with Grand Cru vintages from the château’s own vineyards.

Then we’ll sit down for a grand welcome dinner prepared by a decorated local chef. It’s the perfect start to our first day together, and to our week of unparalleled access in Champagne!

After breakfast, we drive through Épernay’s impressive Avenue de Champagne, a grand succession of elegant residences and châteaux, luxuriant gardens and ornate courtyards. We’ll stop for a private cellar visit and tasting at what is arguably Épernay’s most prestigious Champagne house, Moët & Chandon.

Next, in the tiny vineyard-lined village of Hautvillers, we’ll pause at the stately abbey to pay respects to Dom Pierre Pérignon, the 17th-century monk often cited as the ‘inventor’ of Champagne. More accurately, Dom Pérignon played a key role nudging the region’s winemaking—then, predominantly still and red—to sparkling. This is also our chance to meet with Dom Pérignon’s winemaking team for a flight of their finest.

Our destination this afternoon is Reims, unofficial capital of the Champagne region. We’ll have time to settle in at our glorious manor hotel, Domaine les Crayères, before reconvening for dinner at Restaurant Le Parc, our hotel’s two Michelin star restaurant led by Chef Philippe Mille.

Today we start in the Montagne de Reims terroir, a wooded range of hills covered by smaller, innovative growers and winemakers whom Rusty knows well. Smaller still is Clos des Goisses. This is one—if not the—oldest clos (walled vineyard) in Champagne, perched on a 45-degree slope on chalk hillsides of Mareuil-sur-Ay. The single-plot cuvées produced from Clos des Goisses are legendary; we’re here for a walk through the vines and a blind-testing of Philipponnat’s finest vintages.

At Huré Frères in Ludes we’ll spend a magical afternoon with winemakers and brothers François and Pierre Huré. Viticulture and winemaking are a family tradition; they’ll share their passion and knowledge, and invite us in for lunch. Back in Reims, the afternoon is ours to rest or relax, maybe explore the city’s fashionable boutiques and markets.

In the evening it’s a short walk to Maison Ruinart, established in 1729 and the oldest Champagne house in France. We’ll explore the centuries-old network of crayères, the chalk caves used for cellaring, and taste their finest Blanc de Blancs and cuvées (first pressings). Our dinner tonight—a sublime five-course meal and Champagne pairing—is hosted by Ruinart’s chef on the maison grounds.

Today we embrace the mastery of smaller growers in the Côte des Blancs, named for the white grapes gracing its hillsides and where Chardonnay is exclusively produced. At Suenen in the village of Cramant, Aurélien Suenen’s single-vineyard bottlings reflect his terroir-driven focus, highlighting the uniqueness of each parcel. We’ll taste a variety of their finest, and sit down to a leisurely farm-to-table vineyard lunch with Aurélien himself.

Larmandier-Bernier is among the Côte de Blanc’s—and Champagne’s—finest small estates, and the rare recipient of a Robert Parker Green Emblem in recognition of wineries that extend their sustainability efforts far beyond the requirements for organic and biodynamic certification. The Larmandier family farms organically and harvests late; we’ll meet the winemaker and sample their highly sought-after and unfiltered Grand Cru.

Back in Reims, the evening is ours to enjoy, maybe with a quiet meal at our hotel or fine dining in Reims with suggestions from Rusty.

Many plots, one wine. It’s a cornerstone of Krug’s winemaking philosophy. Each year since 1843, the House of Krug produces a new édition of its Grande Cuvée, always a blend from more than 120 plots and 10 different years. The art of blending—Krug does not believe in hierarchies, and offers just seven Champagnes—gives Krug its distinct expression. We’ll experience this ourselves on a visit to the Krug cellars and at private tastings in the blending room and house gardens.

Lunch today is a special treat: we’ll be welcomed into the Krug family home to share and celebrate our mutual passion for Champagne.

Following a leisurely afternoon back at our hotel, we’ll meet for an unforgettable culinary adieu to Champagne: dinner at L’Assiette Champenoise, the region’s only three Michelin star restaurant. The family-run kitchen is helmed by Chef Arnaud Lallement, his wife Magali and sister Mélanie. The food is flawless; and an extraordinary celebration of Champagne’s freshest ingredients.

We’ll end the day in Paris; but first, a final stop in Champagne at Moussé Fils in Cuisles. Growers for 12 generations, and winemakers for four, the Moussé family specializes in Pinot Meunier produced on its unique green-clay terroir. Meunier grapes are less acclaimed than Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; yet the innovative, award-winning Moussé Fils blends—typically 80% Meunier or more—beautifully showcase these underrated grapes. Glass in hand, we’ll tour the small estate with Rusty and winemaker Cédric Moussé.

We’re welcomed back to Paris in style, with an exclusive shopping experience at LVMH’s private Paris salon. You’ll enjoy rare access to limited editions and original pieces from the world’s most coveted brands.

We’ll have time to relax at the palatial Hôtel de Crillon on Place de la Concorde, before meeting up for a farewell dinner to celebrate Champagne and Paris, and our remarkable time together.

Alors, our time in France has come to an end. After breakfast, we’ll bid adieu to Rusty and our newfound friends.

The last seven days together have been a masterclass in the wines, vineyards and the spirit of Champagne. We’ve had exclusive access to the world’s most renowned Champagne houses, their historic vineyards, cellars and bottles with the producers themselves. We hope that, along with bottles of Champagne, you’ll carry the bon vivant tradition home with you. Embrace the joy in life’s luxuries and the love of things that sparkle in the sun. Until next time!