A&C 2016 Champagne Collection Brochure

Wine Tours

CHAMPAGNE COLLECTION Sparkling introductions to the famous fizz

2016

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www.winetours.co.uk

WELCOME To the Arblaster & Clarke 2016 Champagne Brochure...

4 The Champagne Experience

All you need to know about joining us on tour...

6 Wine Experts

Let the professionals lead the way to great Champagne!

8 Spring Champagne

Visit in the Spring and sample sublime Champagne

10 Introduction to Champagne

Enjoy an ideal introduction to Champagne

12 Early May Bank Holiday

What’s a bank holiday break without a bit of bubbly

14 May Bank Holiday Champagne Relax in Reims this Bank Holiday

16 Early Autumn Champagne

D

ear Travellers,

I am delighted to present our Champagne Collection 2016. We have been travelling to Champagne for almost 30 years now and have got these tours down to a very fine art.

If you are new to Arblaster & Clarke, our Introductory Champagne Weekends are the perfect place to start. Here, you will spot many familiar names among the visits. Most thrilling is the chance to taste at Veuve Cliquot, standing in the ancient chalk cellars from which millions of bottles emerge every year.

For those of you who keep coming back every year, you will see we also have visits to many of the smaller, family-run houses that represent the very soul of Champenois. Having discovered so many fabulous growers and producers we wanted to share as many as possible – so each of our weekends throughout the year has a unique itinerary.

See out autumn in the best possible way

Fun, insightful and, of course, brimming with bubbly – I do hope you can join us on one or more tours to Reims in 2016. If you have any questions please do contact me, or my team at the A&C office,

20 Pre-Christmas Champagne

Happy travels and happy tasting,

22 Ultimate Champagne

Caron Fanshawe General Manager Arblaster & Clarke

Toast the changing of the seasons

18 Late Autumn Champagne

Say hello to the Holiday Season with a glass (or two) A simply superior Champagne stay

24 Calendar and Availability 26 Our Tour Collections

There’s a wine tour for everyone - which will you choose?

28 Essential Booking Information 30 Bespoke Tours & Private Groups

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CHAMPAGNE COLLECTIONS “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it… unless I’m thirsty.” - Lily Bollinger On these enjoyable, informative, expert-led weekends, we take you to our personally recommended selection of Champagne Houses.

These include the famous names that forged Champagne’s reputation - including Tattinger and Veuve Clicquot - as well as our choice of the best smaller Champagne houses and growers. Over the weekend, we want to show you as broad a spectrum of Champagne as possible – an expert Wine Guide will accompany you on tour and compare well known brands to show you the various styles of Champagne and the unique flavours that come from individual villages. The entire Champagne region has UNESCO World Heritage Site status - there are plenty of monuments, galleries, museums shops, bistros and gourmet restaurants to keep you entertained during your free time!

These are the tours we started with!

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Wine improves with age. Travel improves www.winetours.co.uk with wine.

THE CHAMPAGNE EXPERIENCE All you need to know about joining us on tour...

Champagne Short Breaks

These are the tours we started with 30 years ago… short breaks to our favourite place in the world, Champagne! Discover fantastic Champagnes and enjoy the wonderful opportunity to purchase your favourites at advantageous cellar prices. Travelling by coach to Reims, means you can bring up to 36 bottles back home. So you can stock up for your next party… or quiet evening in!

Exclusive Visits

Enjoy a perfect introduction to this, the most seductive of all the wines. There are hundreds of Champagne growers, producers, and houses spread across the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Obviously we can’t visit them all during our tour, but can ensure that you enjoy an ‘allround experience’. We visit the cellars of the most famous houses and a selection of smaller growers who are producing impressive bottles of bubbly. During your tour, you will taste at least 25 Champagnes. Each Champagne House visit is accompanied by a warm welcome along with generous tastings at the cellars.

Fine Local Dining

Champagne is superior for so many reasons - not least because it goes with every thing!

We challenge you to find a culinary treat that it doesn’t compliment. Dine as private guests of top producers; stop for lunch at a famous Champagne estate (to be revealed on the day); and enjoy at least one special meal as guests of a Champagne house. Dining out in Reims, you can enjoy a wealth of wonderful eateries - from Michelin star restaurants to brasseries and bistros. We’ve visited the areas for many years, and have built up quite a ‘little black book’ of recommended eateries. We are happy to make recommendations if you wish.

Who Travels On Our Tours?

Different Ways To See Champagne

Unparalleled Expertise

Bespoke Experiences

If you enjoy fine wine and have a thirst to learn more, these holidays are perfect for you.

The level of wine knowledge varies within our groups - you may be looking to add to an already extensive cellar or may simply like the idea of tasting great wines, where they were made. Everyone is welcome to join us on tour. You are guaranteed to be travelling with people who share your interests and you only have to dine alone if you wish to.

You will be joined by an Expert Wine Guide and Tour Manager. The Wine Guides are some of the most respected figures in the wine industry - award-winning writers, broadcasters and Masters of Wine. They are perfectly placed to introduce you to the best producers, the finest wines and the overall story of the estates we visit. The Tour Managers work hard behind-the-scenes to ensure that you have a hassle free holiday.

Small Group

There’s more than one way to see Champagne.

Our Introduction to Champagne is exactly as you’d expect. Learn everything - growing, making and (of course) tasting. Our Classic tours run through the year. Spend a wonderful weekend visiting a variety of growers and producers. Our Ultimate Champagne tour certainly lives up to its name. Visit the best producers and enjoy 5* food and expertise.

We’ve had the pleasure of arranging private wine tours since we first began touring in 1986. From American wine clubs travelling to Alsace and Argentina; to exclusive groups of wine connoisseurs from Hong Kong touring Burgundy; then there was that Irish wine merchant’s wedding in Portugal... basically, we’ve arranged it all! If you have an idea for your perfect tour - give us a call or email us with the details - with enough notice we can create something perfect just for you.

We only take small groups on our tours, the average group size in 2014 was 20. We think this is the perfect size to ensure you enjoy good company on tour - but small enough to retain a personal experience. This is a holiday after all. You will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions during wine tastings and visits.

Optional Cultural Excursions

In addition to wine visits, we always include optional culture and historical excursions on our tours. Led by the Tour Manager or Expert Guide, these give a more rounded picture of a region. As well as a break from wine, should you need one! Detail of excursions are available on our website.

For further advice, information and to book, ask our in-house experts: Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

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TRAVEL WITH EXPERT WINE GUIDES Let the professionals lead the way to great wine!

Each of our tours is accompanied by an Expert Wine Guide - whose job it is to ensure you get the best out of the region you are visiting. All of the guides who travel with us have an incredible but accessible expanse of knowledge. They make light of talking in depth, and can make even the most complex wine issues interesting and easy to understand.

Many of our guides have worked in the trade for countless years; while others are renowned wine writers and broadcasters; and some are Masters of Wine (MW) - the highest qualification available in the wine trade. Whoever they are, one thing is certain - they like nothing more than a good glass of wine!

Matthew Boucher

Conal Gregory MW

Andrew Jefford

Matthew Boucher is a very charming and thorough wine guide. He is fluent in French and German. He has worked in the trade for more than twenty years, including for the German Wine Bureau and arranges tastings for groups and companies. He is an Associate Tutor with Cambridge Wine School and holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. He was a former manager at Cambridge Wine Merchants. Matthew loves everything about wine and has a particular fondness for Champagne and Riesling. He can often be found helping out at Vinopolis wine merchants.

Conal Gregory MW is an International Wine Consultant and Master of Wine. For many years he was the only MP MW. He was educated at King’s College School, Wimbledon and the University of Sheffield. His wine interests include the classic French regions of Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy - which he has written about frequently.

Conal is also knowledgeable on wine as an investment, and was the author of 1997’s well received book, The Cognac Companion: The Connoisseur’s Guide. He is also the wine compère on ITV’s The Food Programme.

Andrew Jefford is one of the UK’s most respected wine writers.

He is also the author of the multiple award winning book, ‘The New France’. He has written about Champagne many times for Decanter magazine, and occasionally presents The Food Programme on BBC Radio 4. He also writes a bi-monthly column for Decanter and is contributing editor to the The World of Fine Wine magazine. Andrew has won a number of different distinctions for his work, the latest being ‘International Wine Feature Writer of the Year’ at the Louis Roederer Awards 2011.

Ellen Lewis is the daughter of an hotelier and hospitality and tourism were very much part of her upbringing. Whilst studying for a French degree at Bristol University, she spent a year in France working - and doing extensive tastings - at Champagne Taittinger. This is where she realised that a wine career was for her. Keen to combine her passions for wine and tourism, she joined A&C as French Programme Coordinator in 2011. She is now our Product Development Manager. Ellen looks forward to sharing her passion for Champagne in 2016.

Matthew will be leading Early May Bank Holiday - p.12 & Early Autumn Champagne - p.16

Conal will be leading May Bank Holiday Champagne - p.14 & PreChristmas Champagne - p.20

Andrew will be leading the Ultimate Champagne Tour - p.22

Ellen will be leading Spring Champagne - p.8 & Introdution to Champagne - p.10

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Ellen Lewis

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

CHAMPAGNE COLLECTION A simply superior Champagne stay…

Introduction to Champagne – The perfect ‘beginners guide’ to the great and the good of the Champagne region. Visit many household name producers and learn about the growing, making and tasting of this iconic drink.

Classic Champagne – These tours run through the year – all based in Reims – but each visiting a unique selection of hand-picked growers and producers. Discover the smaller, family-run producers that are the soul of Champagne.

Ultimate Champagne – Our 5* Champagne tour, over 5 days with visits to all the top name houses and absolutely first class accommodation, food and expertise. True luxury.

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SPRING CHAMPAGNE Visit in the Spring and sample sublime Champagnes…

Highlights ◊◊ ‘Paris in the Springtime’ simply doesn’t compare to Reims at this time of year ◊◊ Enjoy lunch at one of the larger ‘grower producers’ in Champagne - André Jacquart & Fils in the Premier Cru village of Vertus ◊◊ Taste Champagne Jean Milan’s captivating Côte des Blancs during a private tasting session ◊◊ Travelling by coach to Reims, so it’s possible to bring back up to 36 bottles of Champagne per person on board

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During our Spring-time weekend away, we visit four fantastic estates: Champagne RH Coutier, Champagne Alain Vesselle, Champagne Jean Milan and Champagne André Jacquart.

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA Between 1908 and 1965, Winston Churchill drank between one and two bottles of Champagne per day... amongst other favoured tipples. That huge number certainly explains one of his most famous quotes as Prime Minister during World War Two.

“Remember, gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!”

5th - 7th Mar £595

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“Why do I drink Champagne for breakfast? Doesn’t everyone?”

Noel Coward

Itinerary Day 1 – Saturday, 5th March We travel by coach and make the ferry crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – your Wine Guide will demonstrate the various different styles of Champagne side-by-side. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guides for dinner.

Day 2 – Sunday, 6th March After a Champagne breakfast, we visit Champagne RH Coutier this morning, located in the south of the Montagne de Reims in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. There are so many sights for you to see, including the Abbey of St Rémi and the Triumphal Arch – but none is quite as striking as the Cathedral. We attend a tasting at Champagne Alain Vesselle this afternoon. The Vesselle family has been in charge of this estate since 1885 -100% of its vineyards are located in the Grand Cru village

of Bouzy. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guides for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Monday, 7th March After a glass of Champagne with breakfast we will travel to the Grand Cru village of Oger, to the south of Epernay in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne. Here we visit Champagne Jean Milan, for a private tour and tasting of their typical Côte des Blancs. We continue to Champagne André Jacquart in the Premier Cru village of Vertus. Over lunch, Marie Doyard, who co-owns and runs the property with her brother, will personally present their wines to us. We continue to Calais for our ferry crossing.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wine Guide Ellen Lewis spent a year in France working for Champagne Taittinger, whilst studying for her French degree at Bristol University. It was here that she realised that a career in wine was for her! Having travelled extensively throughout France, Ellen has a great passion for their wines, especially Champagne.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne RH Coutier - enjoy hints of lemon and stewed pears with a racy acidity ◊◊ Champagne Alain Vesselle their wines are remarkably subtle and elegant ◊◊ Champagne Jean Milan - their Champagnes are absolutely typical of the Côte des Blancs ◊◊ Champagne André Jacquart - their new range displays a richness and complexity that comes from the base wines being fermented in oak barrels

Champagne Houses

Champagne RH Coutier - The estate has been run by Nathalie and René since 1981; their son Antoine, has now joined them as the 5th generation to market their Champagne.

Champagne Alain Vesselle - Since 1885, the Vesselle family has combined tradition and modernity to make 100% Grand Cru Champagnes and Bouzy Rouge wines.

Champagne Jean Milan - This family estate still relies on ancient craftsmanship, whilst developing new and more modern techniques.

Champagne André Jacquart - One of the larger ‘grower producers’ and without a doubt one of the best. Their new range displays an unmatched richness and complexity.

What’s Included ௑௑ Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais ௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast accompanied by a glass of Champagne ௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach ௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary ௑௑ Wine Guide and Tour Manager

FRANCE

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INTRODUCTION TO CHAMPAGNE Enjoy an ideal introduction to Champagne, with visits to four leading houses…

Highlights ◊◊ Let us introduce you to our favourite destination in the world... and discover everything about the iconic delight ◊◊ Start the day the right way - with a Champagne breakfast ◊◊ Visit Champagne Taittinger’s Gallo-Roman chalk pits cellars - 17m below the surface of the city ◊◊ Take your favourite Champagnes home with you there’s space for 36 bottles each on the coach home

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On this introduction to Champagne, we meet four excellent producers: Champagne Taittinger, Champagne Billecart Salmon, Champagne Veuve Clicquot and Champagne Vilmart.

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA It has long been rumoured that Champagne was created accidentally. The French region is the most northerly of all the wine-making regions in France and the cold winters would sometimes interrupt the fermentation process. When spring came round again, the yeast would begin fermenting again - creating that oh-so-important secondary fermentation. The pressure in the bottle saw Champagne nicknamed “the devil’s wine” or “le vin du diable” en Francais. The problem of bottles exploding and corks popping led to Adolphe Jaquesson inventing the muselet in 1844.

14th - 16th Apr 3rd - 5th Nov £695

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

NEW

“Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life” Charles Dickens

Itinerary Day 1 – Thursday, 14th April | 3rd November We travel by coach and make the Eurotunnel Crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – Wine Guide will introduce you to the region of Champagne. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guide for dinner.

Day 2 – Friday, 15th April | 4th November Start the day with breakfast accompanied by a glass of Champagne. We attend a tasting at Champagne Billecart Salmon this morning. We first started visiting them in the late 1980s and have watched them rise to super-star status.

Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. There are so many sights for you to see, including the Abbey of St Rémi and the Triumphal Arch – but none is quite as striking as the Cathedral. We visit the beautiful cellars, at Champagne Taittinger this afternoon. We see how it is made and taste a couple of different

Champagnes in their elegant tasting room.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Saturday, 16th April | 5th November Our first tasting today is at Champagne Veuve Clicquot. We will be shown round the stunning chalk cellars which cover 12 hectares with the majority of the chalk ‘crayères’ dating back to the Gallo-Roman times. We enjoy a final lunch at Champagne Vilmart, one of our favourite grower producers. They are one of the few remaining traditional producers who both ferment the wines and mature the Champagnes in oak barrels and tonneaux. We continue to Calais for our Eurotunnel Crossing home.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wine Guide Ellen Lewis spent a year working at Champagne Taittinger, in Reims, and is particularly passionate about the region. She joined the A&C team in 2011 as our French Programme Coordinator and has travelled extensively with us since then, guiding many tours.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Taittinger –explore fascinating, weaving cellars and enjoy a great introduction in the elegant tasting room ◊◊ Champagne Billecart Salmon – renowned for the quality of their delicate rosé, and Champagne of great finesse ◊◊ Champagne Veuve Clicquot – smooth, finely textured and of crouse, the famous yellow label ◊◊ Champagne Vilmart – a rarer house in the way that they use oak barrels for fermentation

Champagne Houses

Champagne Taittinger - Their beautiful cellars were carved from chalk by the Romans and house the prestigious ‘Comtes de Champagne’.

Champagne Billecart Salmon - The essence of the Billecart family style has always been their meticulous production, from the double “débourbage” to long, slow, cool fermentation.

What’s Included ௑௑ Return Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais ௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast and a glass of Champagne

Champagne Veuve Clicquot - The Widow Clicquot is one of the most celebrated women in wine - creating the worldwide renowned brand for her Yellow Label Champagne.

௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach

Champagne Vilmart - One of our favourite growers - established in the 1890s. The Vilmart Champagnes are full of richness, finesse and complexity.

௑௑ Wine Guide and Tour Manager

௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary

FRANCE

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EARLY MAY BANK HOLIDAY What’s a bank holiday break without a bit of bubbly…

Highlights ◊◊ Spend the bank holiday in the best possible way.. with a glass of bubbly ◊◊ We start as we mean to go on with a pre-dinner tasting session – discover the various different styles of Champagne by tasting them side-by-side ◊◊ Enjoy a spectacular sabrage demonstration - Champagne opened by sword! ◊◊ Keep the Bank Holiday spirit going by bringing back up to 36 bottles of Champagne per person

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Meet with the producers at four superb estates, this early May weekend away: Champagne Marguet, Champagne Hatté, Champagne Canard Duchêne and Champagne Henri Goutorbe.

We couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Bank Holiday...

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA Early 20th century artists - including Alfons Mucha, Pierre Bonnard and Toulouse-Lautrec - were actually hired by Champagne houses to depict their wine as a celebratory drink. The famous fizz had long featured in the works of many 19th-century masters, including: Édouard Manet‘s ‘Un bar aux Folies-Bergère’ from 1882, and 1879 ‘Chez le Père Lathuile’, and Paul Cézanne’s 1906 ‘Chaise, bouteille et pommes’.

30th Apr - 2nd May £595

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough Champagne” John Maynard Keynes

Itinerary Day 1 – Saturday, 30th April We travel by coach and make the Eurotunnel Crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – your Wine Guide will demonstrate the various different styles of Champagne sideby-side. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guide for dinner.

Day 2 – Sunday, 1st May We visit Champagne Marguet this morning, based in Ambonnay, on the Montagne de Reims. The house was founded in 1875 by Emile Marguet. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. There are so many sights for you to see. Le Vergeur Museum exists within a halftimbered town house and features a collection of woodcuts by Dürer. We attend a tasting at Champagne Hatté this afternoon. The small producer makes incredibly good value wines ranging from just 13€ to 18€ for the best. Bring cash and stock up here if you like high-quality,

full flavoured wines - highly recommended!

This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guides for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Monday, 2nd May For our first visit this morning we travel to Champagne Canard Duchêne. We will be given a guided tour of the cellars, which contain an interesting and unusual exhibition. This will be followed by a spectacular demonstration of opening a Champagne bottle - with a sword - sabrage! We continue to Champagne Henri Goutorbe in Aÿ for lunch. The house has been known to us since 1988, when the winemaker René Goutorbe came on our Champagne makers tour to Champenoise. We continue to Calais for our Eurotunnel crossing home.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Champagne Houses

Champagne Marguet - In its fifth generation, the ‘Chef de Cave’, Benoit Marguet, continues to develop his passion for the Champagne terroir.

Champagne Hatté – This is a small traditional family run house. The founder, Louis Hatte was chief winemaker at Roederer until 1952.

Champagne Canard Duchêne - The Champagne is simple but very accessible with a fruitdriven style.

Champagne Henri Goutorbe - This leading grower producer won the prestigious award from the French wine and gourmet guides Gault Millau “Vigneron of the Year 1996” (which is not just confined to Champagne winemakers) and has continued to thrive.

Wine Guide Matthew Boucher has worked in the trade for more than twenty years, including for the German Wine Bureau and arranges tastings for groups and companies. He is an Associate Tutor with Cambridge Wine School and holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. He is fluent in French and German

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Marguet – taste a range of impeccable, naturally produced Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Hatté – incredibly full flavoured and exceptionally good value ◊◊ Champagne Canard Duchêne simple but successful, with an accessible fruit-driven style ◊◊ Champagne Henri Goutorbewe’ve enjoyed their sublime wines since 1988, when René Goutorbe came on our change makers tour to Champenoise

What’s Included ௑௑ Return Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais ௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast and a glass of Champagne ௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach ௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary ௑௑ Wine Guide and Tour Manager

FRANCE

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MAY BANK HOLIDAY CHAMPAGNE Relax in Reims this Bank Holiday…

Highlights ◊◊ Taste a range of powerful Champagnes at the family-run Champagne Billiot estate in Ambonnay ◊◊ Explore Champagne Guy Charbaut cellars which have enough room for 3 million bottles of the good stuff! ◊◊ Dine out in Reims with its wealth of wonderful eateries - from Michelin star restaurants to brasseries and bistros ◊◊ Enjoy a wonderful opportunity to purchase wines at advantageous cellar prices

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On this May Bank Holiday, we visit four fabulous estates: Champagne Brice, Champagne Billiot, Champagne Tarlant and Champagne Guy Charbaut.

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA The “saucer” shaped coupe glass is a Champagne icon.

It has often been claimed that the shape was modeled on the shape of the breast of a French aristocrat...

Depending on who is telling the story, . either Marie Antoinette’s or Madame de Pompadour’s..Sadly this is just a ‘saucy’ legend. The glass was actually designed in 1663, specifically for sparkling wine in England almost a century before the aristocrats were born, and decades before sparkling Champagne had come into being.

28th - 30th May £595

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not” Coco Chanel

Itinerary Day 1 – Saturday, 28th May We travel by coach and make the Eurotunnel crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – your Wine Guide will demonstrate the various different styles of Champagne sideby-side. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guide for dinner.

Day 2 – Sunday, 29th May This morning we visit Champagne Brice, based in Bouzy. They also have vineyards in Cramant and Verzenay. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. Roman remains, art deco cafes and a fabulous fine-dining scene awaits you. We attend a tasting at Champagne Billiot this afternoon. This small grower is located in Champagne’s Pinot Noir heartland, Ambonnay.

The house is family-run and produces a range of classic power-packed Champagnes. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join

your guide for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Monday, 30th May For our first visit this morning we travel to Champagne Tarlant. They vinify the wines from individual vineyards separately so that the soil characteristics are expressed. We continue to Champagne Guy Charbaut for lunch. Their chalk cellars go to a depth of 25m under ground and stretch for 1.5 km, with room to store 3 million bottles! We continue to Calais for our Eurotunnel crossing home.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wine Guide Conal Gregory MW was, for many years, the only MP Master of Wine. His interests include the classic French regions of Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy. He is the wine compère on ITV’s The Food Programme and is also knowledgeable on the subject of wine as an investment, writing the ‘Cognac Companion’.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Brice – taste everything from voluptuous, to delicate and crystalline ◊◊ Champagne Billiot – firm and sinewy with a bursting ripeness and complexity ◊◊ Champagne Tarlant - Their best wines are rich and complex, with good structure, fruit notes and a fresh finish ◊◊ Champagne Guy Charbaut Their Premier Crú rosé Champagne is aged for 3 years and is truly impeccable

Champagne Houses

Champagne Brice - Brice specialises in mono cru Champagnes designed to show the terroir of each village.

Champagne Billiot – This small grower is located in Champagne’s Pinot Noir heartland, Ambonnay. It is family-run and produces a range of classic power-packed Champagne.

What’s Included ௑௑ Return Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais ௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast and a glass of Champagne

Champagne Tarlant - This is a top grower with 13 hectares in the Marne Valley. Their Kruglike cuvée Louis, fermented in new oak, is outstanding.

௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach

Champagne Guy Charbaut – The house has been family run for three generations, handed down from father to son. Today the House owns 20 hectares of vineyards.

௑௑ Wine Guide & Tour Manager

௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary

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EARLY AUTUMN CHAMPAGNE Toast the changing of the seasons with a generous glass of bubbly…

Highlights ◊◊ Stock up on bottles at Champagne Hatté the small producer’s wines are extremely well made and incredible value - ranging from just 13€ to 18€ ◊◊ Enjoy a relaxed weekend before the rush of Christmas arrives ◊◊ Taste Champagne Brice’s delicious range of non-vintage Mono-Cru Champagnes ◊◊ Discover Roman remains, art deco cafes and an unforgettable fine-dining scene in Reims

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On this introduction to Champagne, we meet four excellent producers: Champagne Brice, Champagne Hatté, Champagne Cattier and Champagne Vilmart.

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA You may think of James Bond as a martini man, but he’s a notable Champagne drinker too. He drinks it more than any other drink in the Bond films; and refers to a wide range of Champagnes in Ian Fleming’s books - from ten-year-old Clicquot, to Dom Perignon, Krug, Pommery and Taittinger - he’s enjoyed them all.

“My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done, such as drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Goldfinger, 1964

8th - 10th Oct £595

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Itinerary Day 1 – Saturday, 8th October We travel by coach and make the Eurotunnel crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – your Wine Guide will demonstrate the various different styles of Champagne sideby-side. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or join your guide for dinner.

Day 2 – Sunday, 9th October We visit Champagne Brice this morning, based in Bouzy. They also have vineyards in Cramant and Verzenay. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. You’re sure to see the gargantuan Gothic cathedral which rises golden and glistening above the city. This is such a gorgeous place to tour. We attend a tasting at Champagne Hatté this afternoon.

The small producer makes incredibly good value wines - ranging from just 13€ to 18€ for the best. Bring cash and stock up here if you like high-quality, full flavoured wines - highly recommended! This evening is free for you to

explore Reims or join your guide for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Monday, 10th October For our first visit this morning we will travel to the family firm of Champagne Cattier. In 2014, rapper Jay-Z purchased global distribution rights for Armand de Brignac, a Champagne brand produced by Cattier coloquially known as “Ace of Spades”. We enjoy a final lunch at Champagne Vilmart, one of our favourite grower producers. They are one of the few remaining traditional producers who both ferment the wines and mature the Champagnes in oak barrels and tonneaux.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wine Guide Matthew Boucher has spent over 20 years in the wine trade including working for the German Wine Board. He is fluent in French and German and has a great love for Champagne and Riesling! He lectures and organizes wine tastings.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Brice – taste everything from voluptuous, to delicate and crystalline ◊◊ Champagne Hatté – incredibly full flavoured and exceptionally good value ◊◊ Champagne Cattier – an amazing range, from their silky smooth Rosé Bruts to their buttery brioche Crus ◊◊ Champagne Vilmart – their Coeur De Cuvée is deservedly one of Champagne’s most sought-after wines

Champagne Houses

Champagne Brice - Brice specialises in mono cru Champagnes designed to show the terroir of each village.

Champagne Hatté – This is a small traditional family run house. The founder, Louis Hatté was the chief winemaker at Roederer until 1952.

Champagne Cattier - The family firm, based in Chigny-Les-Roses, make excellent Champagnes with a distinct Montagne de Reims character.

Champagne Vilmart - One of our favourite growers. Established in the 1890s Vilmart is still a family run house. The Vilmart Champagnes are full of richness, finesse and an exquisite complexity.

What’s Included ௑௑ Return Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais ௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast and a glass of Champagne ௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach ௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary ௑௑ Wine Guide and Tour Manager

FRANCE

17

LATE AUTUMN CHAMPAGNE A civilised way to say goodbye to the Autumn…

Highlights ◊◊ Discover how Champagne Taittinger make there wines during a private visit to their elegant tasting room ◊◊ Spend some time exploring Reims - the city is particularly beautiful at this time of year ◊◊ Learn more organic vine growing at Champagne Marguet. The natural balance of the soil is enhanced, allowing the vines to grow better and producing better flavour in the grapes! ◊◊ Enjoy the opportunity of purchasing wines at advantageous cellar prices

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On this trip to Champagne, we meet four excellent producers: Champagne Marguet, Champagne Taittinger, Champagne Collard Picard and Champagne André Jacquart.

The weather may be cooler, and Christmas celebrations are still a while away - but that’s the beauty of Champagne... you can use it to toast any occasion. Even if that occasion is just a weekend away!

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA There are approximately 49 million bubbles in a 750ml bottle of Champagne... and every second that goes by, your glass emits 30 of those Champagne bubbles. So drink up!

22nd - 24th Oct £595

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“Champagne is the one thing that gives me zest when I feel tired.”

Brigitte Bardot

Itinerary Day 1 – Saturday, 22nd October We travel by coach and make the Eurotunnel crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – your Wine Guide will demonstrate the various different styles of Champagne sideby-side. The evening is free for you to explore Reims or join our guide for dinner.

Day 2 – Sunday, 23rd October We visit Champagne Marguet this morning, based in Ambonnay, on the Montagne de Reims. The house was founded in 1875 by Emile Marguet. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. Walking through the beautiful boulevards, you’ll find it hard to believe that this was a place of so much devestations of WWI and WWII, The city has been meticulously restored We visit the beautiful cellars, at Champagne Taittinger this afternoon.

We see how their Champagne is made and taste a couple of different varieties in their elegant tasting room. This evening is free for you to

explore Reims or join our guide for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Monday, 24th October For our first visit this morning we travel to Champagne Collard Picard. This firm is made up of two well-established families both with long histories of Champagne production. We continue to Champagne André Jacquart in the Premier Cru village of Vertus. Over lunch, Marie Doyard, who co-owns and runs the property with her brother, will personally present their wines to us. We continue to Calais for our Eurotunnel crossing home.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wine Guide Please note that we are still putting the finishing touches to some of our 2016 tours.

Rest assured, that you will be joined by one of the UK’s leading Wine Guides on this late autumn tour of Champagne.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Marguet – taste a range of impeccable, naturally produced Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Taittinger – sample classy Non-Vintage blends and complex Vintages as well ◊◊ Champagne Collard Picard grand Champagne - rich and textured with notes of lemon and creamy mascarpone ◊◊ Champagne André Jacquart - their new range displays a richness and complexity that comes from fermenting in oak

Champagne Houses

Champagne Marguet - In its fifth generation, the ‘Chef de Cave’, Benoit Marguet, continues to develop his passion for the Champagne terroir.

Champagne Taittinger - Their beautiful cellars were carved from chalk by the Romans and house the prestigious ‘Comtes de Champagne’.

Champagne Collard Picard - The Collards brought expertise and vineyards from the Marne Valley, whilst the Picards orginated in the Cote des Blancs.

Champagne André Jacquart - One of the larger ‘grower producers’ and without a doubt one of the best. Their new range displays a richness and complexity that comes from fermenting in oak barrels.

What’s Included ௑௑ Return Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais ௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast and a glass of Champagne ௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach ௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary ௑௑ Expert Wine Guide and Tour Manager

FRANCE

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PRE-CHRISTMAS CHAMPAGNE Say hello to the Holiday Season with a glass (or two) of Champagne…

Highlights ◊◊ This is the perfect place to visit at Christmas - Reims is said to be where the first French Christmas celebrations took place in 496BC ◊◊ Enjoy the exhibitions, gourmet markets, street animations, nativity scenes and parades during free time in the city ◊◊ Fill yourself up with festive fare at the many bakeries and bistros that line the streets ◊◊ Stock up for the festive party season - bring up to 36 bottles of Champagne back home by coach

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3rd - 5th Dec

During our early Christmas escape, we visit four esteemed estates: Champagne Roger Brun Champagne Rene Geoffroy, Champagne Camille Savès and Champagne Henri Goutorbe.

£645

With our 36 bottle coach allowance, your Christmas and New Year celebrations are taken care of. You just need to decide when to start celebrating...

CHAMPAGNE TRIVIA Although we don’t understand why anyone would rather anything other than drink it... there have been some rather inventive uses for it in the past. English 19th century high society dandies, thought the best way to polish their boots was to use Champagne...

Whilst Marilyn Monroe (at least) once took a bath filled with 350 bottles of Champagne. Now that’s quite a ‘bubble bath’...

Sgl Supp - £100 Deposit pp: £100 Price inc. Eurotunnel, 1 meal & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“In a perfect world, everyone would have a glass of Champagne every evening.”

Willie Gluckstern

Itinerary Day 1 – Saturday, 3rd December We travel by coach and make the Eurotunnel crossing to France. We arrive at our hotel in time for an introductory pre-dinner tasting session – your Wine Guide will demonstrate the various different styles of Champagne sideby-side. This evening is free for you to explore Reims or dine with your guide.

Day 2 – Sunday, 4th December Breakfast is accompanied by a glass of Champagne. We visit Champagne Roger Brun this morning. We have been visiting Champagne Roger Brun and family regularly since 1987. Afterwards, you can enjoy some free time in Reims. The city is bubbling over with not just fine Champagne, but also a wealth of fascinating heritage sites and. We attend a tasting at Champagne Rene Geoffroy this afternoon. The house is famous for its stylish Pinot Noir-dominated Champagnes, made to perfection by the Geoffroy family for five generations. This evening is free for you to

enjoy Reims or dine with you guide.

Meals: Breakfast Day 3 – Monday, 5th December We begin the day with breakfast accompanied by a glass of Champagne before travelling to Champagne Camille Savès for our first visit.

We will taste Champagnes which show well the characteristic power of Bouzy Grand Cru wines. We continue to Champagne Henri Goutorbe in Aÿ for lunch. The house has been known to us since 1988, when the winemaker René Goutorbe came on our Champagne makers tour to Champenoise.We continue to Calais for our Eurotunnel crossing home.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wine Guide Conal Gregory MW was, for many years, the only MP Master of Wine. His interests include the classic French regions of Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy. He is the wine compère on ITV’s The Food Programme and is also knowledgeable on the subject of wine as an investment, writing the ‘Cognac Companion’.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Roger Brun – enjoy beautifully biscuity fizz that’s made to age ◊◊ Champagne Rene Geoffroy – sample some supremely sophisticated, predominantly Pinot Noir blends ◊◊ Champagne Camille Savès – rich, bready and boozy, what more could you ask for? ◊◊ Champagne Henri Goutorbe – They produce a wide selection of charming Champagne

Champagne Houses

Champagne Roger Brun – The family has, for many years now, chosen négociant status so they can select high-quality grapes from small growers in Aÿ to augment production slightly.

What’s Included ௑௑ Return Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais

Champagne Rene Geoffroy – The family has a long history of wine making - the property has been in the family since the 17th century.

௑௑ 2 nights in a 4* hotel in Reims with breakfast and a glass of Champagne

Champagne Camille Savès - This a small grower-producer in the Grand Cru Village of Bouzy. Their wines have great weight and richness.

௑௑ Local transport: A/C coach

Champagne Henri Goutorbe - This leading producer won the prestigious “Vigneron of the Year 1996” (not just confined to Champagne wine-makers) and has continued to thrive.

௑௑ Expert Wine Guide and Tour Manager

௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary

FRANCE

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ULTIMATE CHAMPAGNE There isn’t a superlative strong enough to describe this elegantly extravagant tour...

Highlights ◊◊ Visit leading Champagne producers: Taittinger, Gosset, Philipponnat, Pol Roger, Jacquesson, Salon Delamotte, Louis Roederer and a secret visit, to be revealed! ◊◊ Travel with multi award-winning wine journalist and broadcaster Andrew Jefford ◊◊ Taste some of the best Prestige Cuvées and vintage Champagnes ◊◊ Dine as private guests of top producers and see behind the cellar doors that are closed to the public

22

Champagne is like no other wine region in France… and this is a tour like no other. Our spectacular five-day experience explores the region in style.

Taste Prestige Cuvées and vintage Champagnes from renowned Champagne Houses, and dine as private guests of top producers. Many of the Houses we visit are completely closed to the public – step behind cellar doors closed to everyone else.

Sip on Champagne during a gourmet lunch at a secret Château; enjoy a memorable tasting experience at Salon Delamotte; and visit Taittinger’s magnificent chalk cellars dating back to the 4th century. We also visit and taste at Gosset, the oldest wine-producing property in Champagne and dine in the middle of the vines at the beautiful Chateau de la Marquetterie.

There isn’t a superlative strong enough to describe this tour… ‘Ultimate’ comes close.

7th - 11th Mar £3,095

Sgl Supp - £300 Deposit pp: £500 Without trains pp: £2,885 Price inc. train travel, 5 meals & tips

To book, or for any questions Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

“Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!”

Dom Perignon

Itinerary Day 1 – Monday, 7th March We travel to Aÿ. Our first Prestige Champagne tasting will be hosted by Wine Guide Andrew Jefford at our hotel. We dine at Taittinger’s impressive Château de la Marquetterie tonight.

Meals: Dinner

city of Reims. We stop for dinner and a tasting at Champagne Philipponnat tonight.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 2 – Tuesday, 8th March Our first visit is to Champagne Gosset, the oldest producer of wine in Champagne. We stop for lunch and a tasting at a famous estate.

We continue to Champagne Jacquesson, a small Champagne House dedicated to working to the very highest quality, this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4 – Thursday, 10th March We taste Salon Champagne - produced in very small quantities and only in the greatest vintage years, this morning. Spend some time in Epernay, one of the main centres of Champagne production over lunch. We enjoy a final dinner at Champagne Goutorbe tonight. The leading grower producer won the prestigious “Vigneron of the Year” award in 1996.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3 – Wednesday, 9th March After a morning tasting, you have time to explore Reims. There are many beautiful and impressive buildings here, including the Palais de Vergeur! We continue to Louis Roederer, an independent, family-owned Champagne house.

This afternoon, we visit Taittinger’s beautiful cellars, which weave for kilometres under the

Day 5 – Friday, 11th March We enjoy a final visit to the famous, family owned estate Pol Roger. Their Champagnes are known for their elegance and ability to age well.

We enjoy lunch at the estate, before travelling back to Lille in time for our return journey to London.

Breakfast & Lunch

Champagne Houses

Champagne Gosset - The oldest producer of Champagne in the region, having been active since 1584. Gosset retain traditional shaped bottles with a little cask fermentation.

Champagne Taittinger - Their beautiful cellars date back to the 4th century and were carved from chalk by the Romans. and house the prestigious ‘Comtes de Champagne’.

Salon Delamotte - Salon Champagne is produced in very small quantities and only in the greatest vintage years.

Champagne Louis Roederer - Founded in 1776, Louis Roederer is an independent, family-owned Champagne house that has a tremendous reputation for quality.

Wine Guide Andrew Jefford is a highlyregarded and multi awardwinning wine journalist and broadcaster. He is a regular columnist for Decanter, the Financial Times, Fine Wine and Waitrose Magazine.

Andrew is the author of acclaimed books, including The New France, 2008.

The Champagnes ◊◊ Champagne Philipponnat - an arguably underrated house with a fresh, elegant and plenty of easy-going fruit ◊◊ Champagne Pol Roger - their prestige wine is the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill which shows both elegance and complexity ◊◊ Champagne Jacquesson - they make an annual cuvée, for best possible wine without the constraints of a “house style” ◊◊ We will taste many more excellent Champagnes

What’s Included ௑௑ Standard Premier Class rail tickets from London to Lille return ௑௑ 4 nights at a 5* hotel, a 19th century house ௑௑ 5 meals with Champagne or wine as described ௑௑ Visits and tastings as per the itinerary ௑௑ Expert Wine Guide and Tour Manager

FRANCE

23

2016 CALENDAR Take a look at the year ahead in wine tours

February 14 - 27

✓

Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Derek Smedley MW

Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

25 - 7 Mar

✓

South Australia & Victoria

Sarah Ahmed

Australia

26 - 4 Mar

✓

South Africa

Nicola Arcedeckne-Butler MW

South Africa

Spring Champagne

Ellen Lewis

France

pg. 8

✓

Ultimate Champagne

Andrew Jefford

France

pg. 22

✓

First Growth Bordeaux

Stephen Brook

France

Malta

Angela Muir MW

Malta

Gourmet Amalfi

Leonie Loudon

Italy

Introduction to Champagne

Ellen Lewis

France

Biodynamic Burgundy

Steven Spurrier

France

Douro Vineyard Walk

Ronald Weustink

Portugal

March 5-7

✓

7 - 11

✓

14 - 18

April 4-8

✓

4-9 NEW

14 - 16

NEW

18 - 22

✓ ✓ ✓

18 - 23

✓

18 - 23

✓

Classic Bordeaux

Conal Gregory MW

France

18 - 23

✓

Languedoc

Derek Smedley MW

France

25 - 30

✓

Provence

Monica Murphy

France

Early May Bank Holiday

Matthew Boucher

France

30 - 2 May

✓

pg. 10

pg. 12

May

NEW

8 - 14

✓

Slovenia & Fruili

Gabor Bánfalvi

Italy & Slovenia

9 - 13

✓

Tuscany

Lys Hall

Italy

9 - 16

✓

Portugal - North to South

Charles Metcalfe

Portugal

Priorat & Montsant Walk

Rachel Ritchie

Spain

May Bank Holiday Champagne

Conal Gregory MW

France

Alsace, Mosel & Champagne

Matthew Boucher

France

16 - 22

✓

28 - 30 29 - 4 Jun

✓ ✓

pg. 14

June 3-5

✓

South Downs Vineyard Walk

Caron Fanshawe

U.K.

6 - 11

✓

Sancerre and Chablis Walk

Ellen Lewis

France

13 - 18

✓

Burgundy Walk

Paul Attwood-Philippe

France

Rioja & Ribera

Rachel Ritchie

Spain

20 - 25 24

✓

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

July 18 - 23

✓

Trentino & Alto Adige

Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Italy

26 - 30

✓

Verona Wine & Opera

Lys Hall

Italy

28 - 31

✓

Puccini Festival: Wine & Opera

Leonie Loudon

Italy

11 - 17

✓

Amalfi, Capri & Ischia Walk

Marianna Polverino

Italy

19 - 23

✓

Gourmet Whisky Tour

Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Scotland

Rioja & Ribera

Conal Gregory MW

Spain

September

19 - 24

✓

October 3-8

✓

Gourmet Amalfi

Leonie Loudon

Italy

3-9

✓

Rioja Walk

Ronald Weustink

Spain

Pacific Northwest

Stephen Brook

USA

Early Autumn Champagne

Matthew Boucher

France

7 -15

✓

8 - 10 NEW

✓

9 - 15

✓

Veneto & Piemonte

Tom Bruce-Gardyne

Italy

9 - 17

✓

Sicily

Monica Murphy

Italy

10 - 14

✓

Tuscany

Lys Hall

Italy

17 - 22

✓

Languedoc

Derek Smedley MW

France

17 - 22

✓

Umbria

Jane Hunt MW

Italy

22 - 24 24 - 29

Late Autumn Champagne

✓ ✓

25 - 30

✓

France

Classic Bordeaux

Conal Gregory MW

France

Gourmet Piemonte

Giovanni de Rose

Italy

Introduction to Champagne

Ellen Lewis

France

Stars of the Left Bank

Nicola Arcedeckne-Butler MW

France

Madeira

Charles Metcalfe

Portugal

Stars of the Right Bank

Steven Spurrier

France

Rhône North to South

Louise Hurren

France

Burgundy Celebration

Andrew Jefford

France

Pre-Christmas Champagne

Conal Gregory MW

France

pg. 16

pg. 18

November 3-5

✓

7 - 11 NEW

14 - 18

✓ ✓

14 - 18 14 - 19

✓ ✓

19 - 23

✓

pg. 10

December 3-5

✓

NEW

29 - 2 Jan 2017

✓

New Year in Barcelona

Rachel Ritchie

Spain

NEW

29 - 2 Jan 2017

✓

New Year Naples

Leonie Loudon

Italy

Original

Champagne

Wine Etc.

Reserve

pg. 20

Champagne Collection tours are only in this brochure. Contact us on 01730 263111 for a copy of the other brochures.

25

OUR TOUR COLLECTIONS We offer many different wine tours - give us a call to receive brochures for our other collections...

ORIGINAL As a guest on one of our expert led Original Wine Tours you’ll enjoy VIP access to well-known estates and châteaux, as well as up and coming wineries. This is wine as it should be enjoyed – amidst beautiful surroundings, in the company of people who are passionate about growing, making (and drinking!) it. Our Original Tours fall into 3 categories: Classic, New World and New Year;

Classic

Explore the wine and broader culture of many ‘Old World’ destinations. Our Classic tours are designed to illuminate the differences and similarities in styles, varieties and wine making.

We taste some of the finest wines available during our visits to parts of Europe you may not have had the chance to escape to before.

Explore historically rich towns and cities - visit museums, galleries and gardens. We often arrange an optional guided tour with a local guide to give you a real insight into the towns you are staying in.

New World

Discover the glories of New World wine: Australia, South Africa, the Pacific North-West, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. It may seem like a long way to go for wine - but once you sample what’s on offer, it’ll all seem worth it. These are regions where wine makers forge their own traditions and experiment with new methods. The result?

Surprising wines which rival anything the old-world has to offer.

The wine makers appreciate the miles we’ve come and take the time to explain their work, present their wines and stop to share a glass.

RESERVE Visit properties that are absolutely closed to visitors. Taste the finest wines from the finest vintages and visit ‘unvisitable domaines’...

If you have a passion for fine wine, these unique tours are for you.

Enjoy wine visits and tastings of the very highest calibre. It’s not just the wines that are exclusive, our wine guides are too. Leading the tours, you’ll find the most respected names in the industry, with award winning books and a variety of accolades to their names.

The exclusivity doesn’t end here… We stay at luxury châteaux and hotels, or as private guests of wine estates that are closed to the public. We also dine at Michelin starred restaurants and authentic bistros, where local wine merchants and connoisseurs choose to dine. Our small party sizes mean that you will have plenty of time to get to know your Wine Guide and ask questions without in any way feeling inhibited, and gain a greater understanding of the wines.

New Year

You shouldn’t be allowed to see the New Year in without a glass in your hand… and that glass should be filled with the best bubbles available. Our New Year tours are all about having a good time! We include several wine visits with at least one meal at a wine-estate - but there is plenty of free time to explore the town or city we are staying in. Enjoy a tour of true quality - comfortable surroundings, good food, and an emphasis on great wine. We choose 4* and 5* hotels, and track down the venue that can deliver the best party!

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“Beer is made by men, wine by God.” Martin Luther

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

WINE ETC. Our Wine Etc. tours include everything our original tours do, with you guessed it - something extra thrown in. Enjoy fantastic food, opera experiences, and walks through the great vineyards of Europe;

Gourmet

Let the food take centre stage..Gourmet doesn’t just mean Michelin starred restaurants, or lavish meals in extravagant settings. Enjoy everything from hearty regional fare to nouvelle cuisine. Wine is still important of course, but our focus lies on regional wines. We visit estates who don’t just make, but “grow” their wines too.

Opera

Opera is synonymous with cosmopolitan cities and wine appreciation is a deeply ingrained in the culture. Spend your days exploring stunning vineyards and enjoy evenings at world-famous venues, watching passionate performances... There are no early starts and plenty of time to explore.

Vineyard Walks

These aren’t walking holidays that pass through wine regions - these are genuine wine tours on foot. Explore the vineyards; discover differences in terroir and aspect; and learn more during our tastings. There’s just one thing to remember on tour… stop and look around you: the scenery is sure to be breath-taking.

CRUISE What do you get when you cross a super-yacht with delicious wine? A wonderful holiday of course.

Cruise along a relaxed meandering route - from Nice to Corsica, Tuscany to Sardinia - experiencing culture, cuisine and wine tradition. Join us aboard Le Ponant, a vessel crafted to respect the tradition of famous sailing yachts. Small ship sailing is a joy - they put their larger cruise ship cousins to shame. Under full sail, gliding over the sea, you are sure to fall under Le Ponant’s spell.

27

2016 ESSENTIAL BOOKING INFORMATION Useful information to guide you through the booking process.

Useful information to guide you through the booking process. Please note that bookings with Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours are accepted only in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in our full booking conditions, which can be found on our website or are available on request.

Programme changes

How to Book

Insurance

You can book now on any of the tours listed in this brochure. We are happy to provisionally reserve your places for 7 days without commitment. After this, we require a deposit to confirm your place (see below for deposit amounts).

The final balance due date is no later than 8 weeks before departure on all tours except cruises where it is due no later than 12 weeks before departure. 8 - 10 days before departure you will receive, by e-mail, the final joining instructions, outline daily tour plan and any necessary travel documentation, including flight e-tickets. Where you do not have an e-mail address this will all be sent by standard post within the UK.

Book by phone, by email or online

For bookings made by telephone or email, payment can be made by card, cheque or bank transfer (payable to Arblaster & Clarke). We accept payment by Access, Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, and Visa and Connect debit cards. There is a 2.5% charge towards the cost of the Credit Card fees but no charge for Debit Cards.

You may provide us with your card details by phone or fax. We do not accept post-dated cheques, nor do we keep your card details.

28

For the vast majority of our tours, the programme will be exactly as described in the brochure. Occasionally we do make changes to the order or number of visits. This is usually due to opening hours. We always try to tell guests in advance of any changes.

All clients must have travel insurance with medical emergency assistance, personal accident and liability cover and it is the client’s responsibility to supply A&C in writing of the policy name, number and emergency phone numbers and the name and number of a family member / friend we could contact in order to assist you. We will need to know the details of your policy 4 weeks before departure at the latest.

Deposits £100

for Champagne tours

£300

for all other tours costing up to £3000

£500

for all tours costing over £3001 (except Cruises)

£1500

for Cruises

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

Cancellation by you

Cancellation charges payable to Arblaster & Clarke are calculated on time prior to departure as follows: Cancellation charges are:

Non-Cruises

Cruises

85 days or more before departure

loss of deposit*

loss of deposit*

56 - 84 days before departure

loss of deposit*

-75%

41 - 55 days before departure

-35%

-90%

29 - 40 days before departure

-55%

-100%

8 - 28 days before departure

-75%

-100%

0 - 7 days before departure

-100%

-100%

1992 for Arblaster & Clarke, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: 1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK; and 3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK. 1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Arblaster & Clarke.

AITO quality charter

All additional travel arrangements and other extras, upgrades and tickets purchased and paid for at time of booking are 100% nonrefundable. Insurance claims must be made direct to your insurance company, but as soon as we receive written confirmation of the cancellation we will provide a cancellation invoice to enable you to make your claim.

Arblaster & Clarke is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service.

Arblaster & Clarke abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito. com. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

Cancellation by us

What’s included

If we have to cancel your holiday we will notify you no later than 56 days before the date of departure (85 days in the case of cruises), you will have the choice of taking an alternative holiday (and paying or receiving a refund/credit in respect of any price difference) or accepting a full refund of all monies paid.

Financial protection

Flight inclusive tours: we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s License issued by the CAA (ATOL No. 2543) which provides for your protection in the event of Arblaster & Clarke’s insolvency. The price of your air holiday packages includes the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.

Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme as explained below.

Tours without flights arranged by us: The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations

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Wine Guide Tour Manager (with most groups of 15+) Scheduled flights, coach or train where stated Accommodation Wine tasting Meals with wine where stated; meals are not provided on travelling days ◊◊ Wine notes, tips, entrance to all vineyards in the programme

Committed to sustainable tourism

We work hard to ensure our visits have a positive impact on the places we go to and acknowledge the importance of AITO’s sustainable tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating.

The prices in this brochure are valid for all bookings taken from 30th September 2015. Last revised September 2015.

We are Arblaster & Clarke Ltd, registered limited company no. 2966601.

Registered offices: Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours, Cedar Court, 5 College Street, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 4AE

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BESPOKE TOURS & PRIVATE GROUPS Let Arblaster & Clarke organise the perfect tour... just for you

If you have an idea for your perfect tour, let us know.

We’d love to make it a reality for you!

Over the last 30 years, we’ve arranged countless trips for private groups and companies alike. Don’t limit your imagination to just cellar visits. We can arrange multi-faceted tours that include vineyard walks, opera performances, gourmet asides - from truffle hunting to cookery courses - and historical Châteaux tours. The list goes on and on!

If you have a hankering to explore a particular region, wish to plan a trip for your group or society, or want to arrange a special celebration we would be

delighted to discuss a bespoke private tour. Every year, we organise unique tours, all over the world, tailored to groups of many shapes and sizes. From birthday Champagne weekends to ‘once in a lifetime’ tours to Australia. Group sizes can vary from 2 to 200 people! Please do get in contact to discuss your group, budgets and requirements and we will get you on your way to your dream wine tour!

Visit renowned wineries and estates, stay in the best accommodation, dine at fantastic restaurants, and travel with insightful Wine Guides and experienced Tour Managers. Enjoy the trip of a lifetime - just the way you want it to be.

ANY QUESTIONS? GET IN TOUCH We are happy to help however we can - so give us a call...

The Arblaster & Clarke office is staffed by a team of passionate and knowledgeable, well-travelled oenophiles and travel professionals...

When you call Arblaster & Clarke, you will get straight through to a ‘real’ person. Laura-Marie Taylor-Stoakes is our Customer Care Manager, and she and the team are on hand to help you organise your perfect wine tour from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. All of our staff are happy to advise on all aspects of our tours.

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For further advice, information and to book, ask our in-house experts: Call: 01730 263111 Email: sales@winetours.co.uk Visit: www.winetours.co.uk

Wine improves with age. Travel improves with wine.

www.winetours.co.uk

“Wine is one of the most civilised things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.� Ernest Hemingway

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Wine Tours

01730 263111 sales@winetours.co.uk www.winetours.co.uk Arblaster & Clarke, Cedar Court, 5 College Street, Petersfield GU31 4AE