{"id":12599,"date":"2017-04-09T11:47:28","date_gmt":"2017-04-09T09:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bonnesadressesremoises.fr\/?p=12599"},"modified":"2017-10-09T11:48:04","modified_gmt":"2017-10-09T09:48:04","slug":"touring-the-canard-duchene-house-of-champagne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonnesadressesremoises.fr\/index.php\/touring-the-canard-duchene-house-of-champagne\/","title":{"rendered":"Touring the Canard-Duch\u00eane house of Champagne"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Carte<\/p>\n

The Canard-Duch\u00eane estate welcomes you in the village of Ludes, located at the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Away form the city-centre agitation, yet still a stone’s throw away (only a 15-minute ride), the estate in itself is a must-see, for its lovely park only, where admirable trees have stood tall for hundreds of years.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

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The tour in itself begins with a walk around the vineyard (availabe only in the Spring and in the Summer, and subject to weather conditions). You’ll learn the differences between Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir (types of grapes) and a few anecdotes on how the vines evolved over the years. You then walk down the stairs to the Champagne vat (a lift is also available for disabled people). The champagne vats contain a total of 14 millions bottles, on four levels down. Two of these levels are (partially) open for visit to the public.<\/p>\n

The caves, authentically built in limestone 200 years ago, are worth seeing. They are nowadays cleverly designed for a quality tour, which was completed rethought in 2013. The Charles VII brut ros\u00e9 vintage, for instance, is put under the spotlight thanks to a roses-decorated cellar. Before coming in, you’ll be able to learn some more about the historical context through signs, which depict how signing the Troyes peace treaty turned Charles VII into a penniless and landless king, leaving room for the English \u2013 and the Lancaster house in particular, whose emblem is the red rose \u2013 to take control of the area. Numerous other vintage wines are aslo part of the exhibition.<\/p>\n

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On the first level down, you’ll find a specifically visit-oriented cave, presenting some vintage wines and offering a bit of the house’s historical background. This house of champagne was founded by a couple, Victor Canard and L\u00e9onie Duch\u00eane, in 1868. Before 1955, a castle (Ch\u00e2teau de Ludes) stood on the estate. Its ruins are still to be seen in the park today.<\/p>\n

\"Le<\/p>\n

\"\"The building’s stained-glass windows were restored and can be admired during the tour.<\/p>\n

You get a closer look of the bottles of champagne for sale upon coming down the second flight of stairs. The elaboration of the champagne wine and the history of the estate is well presented by the tour guide. Each step of the process is illustrated by a sign, available in both French and English. The tour goes through every step of the making chronologically, thus ending in the final packaging of the bottles. Last, but not least, the tour ends on a champagne tasting.<\/p>\n

This is where this house truly stands out.<\/p>\n

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Indeed, beautiful tulip-shaped glasses are generously filled up. What’s more, you get to choose between 2 options (indicated prices run for 2017) :<\/p>\n

\u2022 for 17,50 euros : \u00ab\u00a0Authentic tour\u00a0\u00bb, including a glass of champagne<\/p>\n

\u2022 for 22,50 euros : \u00ab\u00a0Charles VII tour\u00a0\u00bb, including a 2-glass tasting (to pick among the Charles VII vintage wines)<\/p>\n

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INFORMATIONS<\/span><\/p>\n

Caves Canard-Duch\u00eane
\n1 rue Edmond Canard – 51500 Ludes<\/span><\/p>\n