Behind the Scenes of Champagne

By Champagne Suply

SEPTEMBER 19

At Les Jardins d’Arcadie, you’ll meet Olivier Suply, a winemaker in Vrigny, to gain a better understanding of the journey of a champagne.
Through his insights, you’ll discover vineyard work, the winemaker’s decisions, and the steps that shape future vintages.
The visit continues with a guided tasting of “vin clair,” the essential base for blending champagnes.

Free with reservation
Ticket sales begin on August 28
Untitled Design (4)

In detail

Through this interview with Olivier Suply, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of champagne, long before the bubbles appear. A winemaker in Vrigny, he shares his daily life with you as the seasons unfold: the work in the vineyard, the care given to the grapes, the steps involved in the aging process, and the decisions that shape the style of his cuvées.

This lecture will give you a better understanding of the connection between the terroir, Champagne grape varieties, and winemaking choices. You’ll also discover a stage that’s often less well-known to the general public: the “vin clair.” This still wine, produced during the first fermentation, forms the basis of future champagnes. During a guided tasting, you’ll explore its aromatic characteristics, structure, and central role in the blending process.

Accessible and welcoming, this experience offers you the chance to interact directly with a family-run winemaker. You’ll leave with a solid understanding of vineyard work, the creation of a cuvée, and the steps leading up to the birth of champagne.

Olivier Suply

In Vrigny, Maison Champagne Suply carries on a family tradition of craftsmanship, producing Premier Cru cuvées that honor the terroir. Olivier Suply represents the fifth generation of the family established in the heart of the Massif de Saint-Thierry. Drawing on his hands-on experience, he shares his knowledge of the vineyards, Champagne grape varieties, and the various stages involved in the production of Champagne wines.

www.champagne-suply.com

The Gardens of Arcadia

Located near downtown Reims, the Les Jardins d’Arcadie residence regularly hosts events open to the public that encourage social interaction and the sharing of knowledge. Its welcoming atmosphere is particularly well-suited to the exchanges and discoveries offered as part of the Relais du Goût program.

Address: 34 Boulevard Henry Vasnier, 51100 Reims

Ticket Office

August 28
at 10 a.m.

for the opening of the ticket office

Practical Information

Duration: 1 hour
📍 Location: 34 Boulevard Henry Vasnier, 51100 Reims
👥 20 participants
🗣️ In French

💰 Prices:
Free with reservation (reservation required)

📆 Dates and times:
Saturday, September 19: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Partagez cet événement / Share this event

• Meet a family-run winemaker in person
• Discover “vin clair,” the base for future champagnes (tasting)
• Free, intimate event—reservations required

Families are welcome to visit the winery, but participation in the activity (tasting of unaged wines) is restricted to adults only.

The venue is accessible to people with limited mobility.
For other types of disabilities, please contact the organizer to confirm what accommodations are available.

Yes, pets (dogs, cats) are allowed as long as they are kept on a leash in common areas. Guide dogs and service dogs, however, are allowed everywhere without restriction.

To get to the Jardins d'Arcadie, you can:
- Take the U5 bus and get off at the Gouraud stop, which drops you off right in front of the venue.
- Or take the Reims City Bus (Line C) and get off at the Crayeres stop, then walk 3 minutes (230 m) along Boulevard Henry Vasnier, and you’ll have arrived.