Explore the Mothership

For devoted sparkling-wine fans, no place is better than the region whose name is synonymous with the best in bubbly. One of the most unique ways to explore France’s Champagne region is on a private bicycle tour with DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., whose six-day itineraries include cellar tours at top Champagne houses (like Pommery and Moet & Chandon), Michelin-starred meals, stops at historic sites and museums, and a visit to the village of Hautvillers, where a monk named Dom Perignon first discovered the fermentation process that led to the creation of Champagne. Along the way, you’ll bike through Grand Cru villages—assisted by an expert support team—and overnight in charming chateaux.

The region is also home to a new wellness experience of another kind: the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, opened this summer in the town of Epernay. The destination’s first ever luxury wellness resort, the 49-room retreat features both modernist and 19th-century wings, gourmet offerings from two-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Denis Rieubland, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a 16,000-square-foot holistic spa offering treatments, yoga, a traditional hammam, and more—all surrounded by views of vineyard-dotted hills. Visit this September through November to get a look at the Champagne harvesting process and to enjoy tours and tastings at top local cellars.