In Bassuet, Champagne expertise and a walking trail offer two different ways to discover the area. Several houses offer insights into the vineyards, wine presses and Champagne production; visits and tastings are sometimes by appointment. There is also the Circuit à Bassuet, which passes through woodland, by a chalk quarry and up to a ridge. These options can help you decide whether to plan your stay around winegrowing, hiking or both. Take note of the different conditions for visits.

The Circuit à Bassuet: Woodland, Chalk Quarry and Ridge

The 14 km Circuit à Bassuet is classed as an easy hiking route. The trail passes through a wooded section; after a chalk quarry, it climbs in switchbacks and reaches a ridge. The route described thus combines a stretch through woodland, a climb and the ridge beyond. The circular trail offers a sweeping panorama towards the northeast. Whether the view is clear depends on the weather.

The route information was updated on 13 August 2024 and may not have been revised since. Check the trail conditions and current route information before setting out. This will help you keep both the distance and the specific route description in mind, rather than relying solely on its easy rating.

Champagne Visits with Different Conditions

Champagne Dantan is in Bassuet, in the heart of the Vitryat area of Champagne. The house welcomes visitors year-round by appointment for vineyard visits, tours of the wine press and guided tastings. The three formats have different focuses: you can choose to learn about the vineyards, get a look at the wine press or enjoy a guided tasting. Book your visit in advance.

At Champagne Jean-Louis Chauré, the offerings include tours of the estate, wine press and press house, as well as tastings. Visits are by appointment only. The visitor route at Champagne Bernard Lonclas explores the history of the house and Champagne production: it includes the wine press, the pressing centre, ageing in the cellar and riddling, as well as a tasting. This offers different ways to discover the production process—from a tour of several stages to visits of individual areas. Champagne Oudart Ortillon also invites visitors in Bassuet for tours and tastings; confirm the arrangements before your trip.

Winegrowing History with a Specific Local Connection

One dated milestone in the history of winegrowing in Bassuet is 31 March 1974. On that day, Bernard Lonclas acquired “La Touaille” for the first time, a 55-are Chardonnay plot on the southeastern slopes of Bassuet.

Champagne Oudart Ortillon is also part of Bassuet’s winegrowing history: the estate has been in existence for three generations. At Oudart Ortillon, every step from the grape harvest to the production of the cuvées takes place on site. This describes the house’s production process; the tours and tastings on offer are a separate way to learn more about the estate.

Bassuet in its Regional Context

Champagne Oudart Ortillon is in the Coteaux Vitryats in the Marne. A tourist route through the Coteaux Vitryats connects Bassuet with other towns in the region. These are two distinct scales: the Circuit à Bassuet is the 14 km hiking route in the area, while the tourist route links Bassuet with other towns in the Coteaux Vitryats.

Discover more destinations: Eclaires, Giffaumont-Champaubert, Bourg-Sainte-Marie, Le Breuil, Champillon, Thiéblemont-Farémont, Festigny, Mardeuil

For the broader travel overview: Marne.