Reims

Reims is located in the French department of Marne in the region Champagne, and developed on both banks of the Vesle. The city area is mostly flat and lies in the Vesle valley. To the south-east of the historic town, the hill of Saint-Nicaise rises as a prominent outcrop, about 50 metres above the Vesle, to a height of roughly 135 metres.

The hill of Saint-Nicaise stands on white Campanian chalk from the Cretaceous period, the so-called Reims chalk, which was previously mined underground. The calcareous subsoil of Champagne can absorb and store water. Vineyards lie to the south of Reims; in the Saint-Nicaise district, production, cellars and trading facilities of Champagne are concentrated instead.

The cool northern winegrowing climate of Champagne is characterised by changing conditions, while summer sun and temperatures allow the grapes to ripen for longer. The most important grape varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Champagne is a sparkling wine whose second fermentation in the bottle produces the carbon dioxide. Former Gallo-Roman and medieval chalk pits are used in Reims as cellars for this fermentation and the subsequent maturing.

In the 19th century, the hill of Saint-Nicaise became a centre for the Champagne houses. Champagne Ruinart was founded in 1729 and acquired, in 1768, the land on the hill as the first Champagne house. Since 2015, Saint-Nicaise has been one of three components of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne”. The production area of the Champagne appellation was legally defined in 1927; in 1936, Champagne received the protected designation of origin.