Aÿ get a kick from

Aÿ get a kick from Champagne The Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars are UNESCO listed in recognition of their heritage. The historic vineyards of Hautvillers, where monk Dom Perignon lived and worked, the area of Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Saint- Nicaise Hill in Reims, the Avenue de Champagne and Fort Chabrol in Epernay. Sign at Pressoria East of Paris lies the region of Champagne – known around the world for its effervescent wine. The most well-known vineyards are in the Marne department, also home to the two major cities of Champagne: Reims and Epernay. Both sit above hundreds of miles of cellars in which several million bottles of Champagne lie waiting to be released and enjoyed by a legion of fans. And around these two Champagne cities is glorious countryside, peppered with farms, unspoiled villages and precious vineyards, where the soul of Champagne resides says Janine Marsh. Aÿ, pronounced like ‘eye’, is the third most important Champagne wine town in the Marne. As far back as Gallo-Roman times, the Romans arrived in 57 BC, it was already well known for its wine. King Henri IV (1353- 1610) called himself “Sire d’Aÿ” and legend has it that he kept a wine press in a house behind the medieval church of St Brice. A stone’s throw from the church is Pressoria – not a museum says the director Victor Canchon, “it’s a sensory journey to the heart of Champagne.” And it’s a fabulous place to start your discovery of Champagne. No dry exhibition this, quite literally – as it ends with a delicious tasting. Pressoria is housed on the site of a former Pommery Champagne pressing centre. It’s innovative and interactive, fun and fascinating, and great for the whole family. A visit here gives you a marvellous overview of Champagne from the land to the bottle. 10 rooms are dedicated to all things Champagne. Animated vines snake across the floor at your feet, bubbles follow your hands as you run them over the walls; it really is a sensory visit as you taste, touch, see, listen and smell the magic of Champagne. You can easily spend two hours here. Details: pressoria.com/en And there’s no better place to continue your Champagne voyage of discovery than this exquisite part of the region. There are many producers and growers in the hills around and if you can’t make up your mind which to choose – the Champagne Tour Co can 32 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 33