VINEYARD ESTATE EPIPHANIES | Champagne Philippe Martin, Cumières

Seven days and eight nights wrapped in the arms of champagne concocted through vintage kiss is bound to leave a mark on a man. It’s all been very heady, it’s all been very luxurious, and not a touch less unforgettable. Only now, as I’m being driven by Adeline Martin in her bumblebee-inspired Citroën Deux Chevaux Vintage through her family vineyards on this crisp Saturday morning, am I able to process all of it. Adeline is the heiress to the Champagne Philippe Martin estate in the village of Cumières, inclusive of two flourishing vineyards, a home rich with history, and a remarkable cellar. I’ve chosen to bid adieu to this particular journey, appropriately enough, with champagne. As we relax in the estate’s tasting-room, I take a minute to gather my thoughts about the voyage.

I’ve quaffed about forty glasses of champagne in the past few days, and my love affair with the spirit has only grown with every flute. I’ve come to understand that for the French, especially for those from this region, champagne isn’t a drink reserved for celebrations or occasions alone, but an everyday drink meant to complement life much as wine does in the regions of Burgundy and Bordeaux. I’ve come to know the warmth of some truly wonderful people. And I’ve come to realise that France’s Champagne region, often overlooked for the romance of Paris, the glitz of the Riviera, or the poetry of Provence, is just as charming, if not more so, than its cousins. Having said that, it falls on me to tell you that after this journey, I do drop in to Paris for a few nights filled with another kind of magic. But perhaps that’s best saved for another story.