Champagne Making Experience: Create Your Own Vintage Champagne

About This Experience

This exceptional experience begins in the storied vineyards of Champagne, where the region’s unique terroir imparts its signature elegance to the grapes. You’ll be guided through each stage of the winemaking process—from grape selection and blending to bottling, riddling, and disgorgement—using the méthode traditionnelle that defines the world's most prestigious sparkling wines.

The pinnacle of this journey is the creation of your Personal Vintage—a tailor-made champagne blend that reflects your own palate and preferences. Set against a backdrop of rolling vineyards and vaulted cellars, this experience is as intimate as it is luxurious, offering rare access to one of Champagne’s most revered houses.

What’s Included

• Vineyard Immersion
  Begin your journey among the vines, where you’ll learn how the region’s microclimates and soil composition shape the character of each varietal.

• Private Winery & Cellar Access
  Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of a cutting-edge winery and centuries-old cellars. See where tradition meets innovation in the hands of master craftsmen.

• Meet the Winemaker
  Spend time with the house’s acclaimed winemaker in an intimate setting. Discover the philosophy, techniques, and subtle artistry that go into every bottle.

• Tasting of Five Signature Cuvées
  Take part in a guided tasting of the maison’s most iconic cuvées, hand-selected to showcase the diversity, complexity, and elegance of Champagne at its finest.

• Personal Vintage Creation & Masterclass
  Engage in an in-depth masterclass, followed by a blind tasting that culminates in the blending of your own bespoke champagne. Guided by experts, you’ll create a vintage that is uniquely yours—bottled, labeled, and aged to perfection.

• Gastronomic Champagne-Paired Dining
  Experience a private, chef-prepared lunch or dinner where each course is harmoniously paired with cuvées selected to elevate and enhance every bite. Prepared before your eyes, this is Champagne dining at its most refined.

Highlights

• A rare, hands-on champagne-making experience from grape to glass

• Private access to one of Champagne’s most exclusive maisons

• Personalized cuvée blending and bottling for your own vintage

• Sommelier-led tastings of exceptional cuvées

• Intimate masterclasses with leading Champagne experts

• Fine dining with private chef and champagne pairings

• The ultimate luxury for wine lovers and collectors alike

Who This Is For

This experience is designed for discerning travelers, wine enthusiasts, and collectors seeking a deeper connection to the traditions and terroir of Champagne. It’s perfect for those who appreciate authenticity, exclusivity, and the joy of creating something truly personal and timeless.

Why We Chose This Experience for You

"To create your own vintage champagne in the company of master artisans is more than indulgence—it’s immersion in a legacy of precision and passion. This rare opportunity blends craftsmanship with luxury, offering our clients not just a taste of Champagne, but a signature bottle of their own story." – Sybarite Team

FAQS

What is champagne making, and how does it work?

Champagne making, or méthode traditionnelle, is the classic process used to produce authentic Champagne. It involves several steps:

• Primary fermentation to create the base wine

• Blending different base wines to achieve the desired style

• Secondary fermentation in the bottle, where sugar and yeast are added and the bottle is sealed to produce bubbles

• Aging on the lees (dead yeast cells) to develop complexity and flavor

• Riddling and disgorging to remove sediment

• Dosage to adjust sweetness before final corking and labeling.

Are there any champagne-making workshops in the UK?

Yes! There are champagne-making workshops in the UK, usually held in London or at selected venues. These workshops give participants a chance to learn about the champagne-making process, sample champagnes, and get involved in blending and bottling techniques.

How long does a typical champagne-making workshop last?

Workshops typically last 2 to 3 hours, combining theory, hands-on activities, and tastings.

What should I wear to a champagne-making experience?

Dress smart-casual and comfortably, as you may be standing and moving around. Avoid loose jewelry or open-toed shoes for safety and hygiene reasons.

Can I create and bottle my own champagne?

Yes, many workshops offer the chance to blend your own cuvée and bottle it to take home or gift. This is a highlight for many participants.

Are these workshops suitable for beginners?

Absolutely! These experiences are designed for all levels, from novices to enthusiasts. The workshops balance education with fun and hands-on learning.

What’s the best time of year for champagne-making experiences?

Champagne-making workshops are held year-round, but spring and autumn are popular seasons for such events, offering pleasant weather and special themed sessions.

What to Expect During a Champagne-Making Workshop

Welcome and introduction to champagne history and terroir

Guided tasting of different champagnes to understand styles and notes

Step-by-step explanation of the méthode traditionnelle process

Hands-on blending sessions where you experiment with base wines

Demonstrations of riddling, disgorging, and dosage techniques

Opportunity to bottle your blend and label it

Activities and Tastings Included

Tastings of several champagne styles, from Brut to Rosé

Guided blending exercises with real base wines

Instruction on champagne service and pairing tips

Optional workshops may include food pairings or cocktail mixing

Benefits of Hands-On Champagne Workshops

Gain insider knowledge of champagne production

Develop sensory skills with expert-guided tastings

Experience creative blending and bottling

Take home a unique, personalized bottle

Perfect for celebrations, team-building, or gifting a memorable experience

Understanding Champagne

Champagne is not just any sparkling wine; it is a symbol of luxury and celebration, produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France. The champagne production process is a meticulous and time-honored tradition that dates back to the 17th century, largely unchanged since the days of Dom Perignon. This intricate process is what gives Champagne its delicate bubbles, refined texture, and complex flavors.

To truly appreciate Champagne, it’s essential to understand the different types available. Non-vintage Champagne is a blend of wines from multiple years, offering a consistent house style. Vintage Champagne, on the other hand, is made from grapes harvested in a single exceptional year, showcasing the unique characteristics of that particular vintage. Prestige cuvée represents the pinnacle of a champagne house’s offerings, often made from the best grapes and aged for extended periods to achieve unparalleled depth and complexity.

Grape Varieties and Blending

The magic of Champagne lies in its blend of grape varieties, each contributing unique characteristics to the final product. The primary grapes used are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. Pinot Noir adds structure and intensity, Chardonnay brings elegance and finesse, while Pinot Meunier offers fruitiness and roundness.

The grapes are meticulously hand-picked to ensure only the best quality fruit is used. Once harvested, they are gently pressed to extract the clear grape juice, known as cuvée, which forms the base wine. The blending process, or assemblage, is a critical step in champagne production. It involves combining wines from different grape varieties, vineyards, and sometimes even different years to create a harmonious and consistent final product. This art of blending is what allows each champagne house to maintain its signature style year after year.

Fermentation and Ageing

Fermentation is where the transformation from grape juice to wine begins. The clear grape juice is placed in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, where it undergoes primary fermentation at a controlled temperature of 64-68°F. During this process, the natural sugars in the juice are converted into alcohol, resulting in a still wine with high acidity.

Some champagne producers also employ malolactic fermentation, a secondary process that converts the sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid, reducing the wine’s overall acidity and adding complexity. After fermentation, the wine is aged in a cool cellar for a minimum of 15 months for non-vintage Champagne and at least three years for vintage Champagne. This ageing process allows the wine to develop its unique flavors and aromas, contributing to the overall quality of the final product.

Riddling and Disgorging

Once the ageing process is complete, the Champagne undergoes riddling, a traditional method used to clarify the wine. The bottles are placed in special racks at a 75-degree angle and are gradually turned and tilted by a skilled riddler. This process helps to collect the sediment, or lees, in the neck of the bottle.

Disgorging follows riddling and involves removing the sediment to ensure a clear, pristine Champagne. The neck of the bottle is frozen in an ice-salt bath, trapping the dead yeast cells in a small ice plug. When the cap is removed, the pressure inside the bottle expels the frozen plug, leaving behind a clear and sparkling wine.

Dosage and Corking

During disgorgement, a small amount of wine is lost, which is compensated for by adding a mixture known as dosage. This blend of white wine, brandy, and sugar adjusts the sweetness level of the Champagne, tailored to the style desired by the champagne house. The amount of sugar added varies, creating different styles such as Brut, Extra Brut, or Demi-Sec.

Finally, the bottle is corked and secured with a wire cage to withstand the internal pressure of the carbon dioxide. Depending on the style and the champagne house’s preferences, the Champagne may be aged further in the bottle, allowing it to develop even more complexity and depth before it is ready to be enjoyed.

By understanding these intricate steps, you can truly appreciate the craftsmanship and dedication that goes into every bottle of Champagne, making it a timeless symbol of celebration and luxury.