Pinot Noir grapes maturing on the vine
My family and I like to take every opportunity we can to travel together and explore the world, and one of the best ways
to enjoy a new culture is by sampling the local food and wine. A day trip to a vineyard is a great way to learn more
about the science of winemaking and the art of tasting, which you can use later to impress your friends, and it's
also just a great excuse for a bit of indulgence and relaxation. Here are three gorgeous vineyards across Europe,
which are great examples of some of the most famous wine regions, and really do make for a great day out.
Moët & Chandon, France
With its prime location along the Avenue de Champagne in the centre of Épernay, the famous house of Moët & Chandon
is right in the heart of the Champagne region. Moët & Chandon boast the largest cellars in the whole region,
which amount to about 28km, and they offer guided hour-long tours, with a tasting session at the end. The tours are
open to all ages, but the tastings are strictly for over 18s only.
Take a tour of the beautiful Moët & Chandon vineyard
There are plenty of other great Champagne houses located within the Épernay commune, and it is also just a short drive
from the city of Reims, which is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. To get to Épernay from our Calais
terminal, simply follow the A26 as far as Reims, and then take the bypass and head along the D951, which should only
take you a little over two and a half hours in total.
Weingut Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler, Germany
One of Germany's most renowned wine regions is the beautiful Mosel region, famous for its light and crisp Riesling, grown
on the steep banks leading down to the Moselle River, after which the region is named. One of the finest vineyards
in the Middle Mosel is Weingut Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler, which offers one of the highest-quality Rieslings in the
area and a reasonably priced tasting tour.
The Mosel wine region of Germany
The drive from Calais to Mosel will take you about eight and a half hours, so you may want to plan a couple of breaks
along the way. The quickest route will take you through Belgium, past Brussels, and onwards over the German border
and past Cologne, either of which would provide a welcome rest to stretch your legs.
Weingut Donatsch Malans, Switzerland
The Weingut Donatsch Malans vineyard has been in the Donatsch family for five generations, over 100 years, so it's safe
to say they have definitely learned a thing or two along the way. Their 4.5 hectare estate lies in the Malans region
Switzerland, and provides the perfect conditions for a variety of grapes in the Pinot family, with a particular focus
on the deep red Pinot Noir. They offer wine tastings in either their barrel cellar, or old vaults, which are not
to be missed!
Malans is located on the eastern side of Switzerland, which means it will take you a little over eight and a half hours
to get there. However, there are plenty of great rest stops en route, including the Reims in France and Zurich in
Switzerland, where you will have no trouble finding something to do or somewhere to eat.
Getting there with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Driving to Europe is made easy with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. It takes just 35 minutes to cross the Channel, and with services
running 24 hours a day, up to four times and hour, you're guaranteed to find a time that suits you. Plus, with none
of the baggage restrictions you face at the airport, you don't have to worry about bringing back a couple of bottles
of wine as a souvenir from your trip to the vineyard!