Champagne Masters Immersion in Reims

Master the captivating complexity of Champagne with an immersive experience—dive deep into the regions unique geology, history and tradition while savoring exquisite wines that are destined to bring your appreciation for this world-famous region to new heights.

October 5 – 10, 2025

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6 days

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Led by Essi Avellan MW & Peter Liem

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Program Overview

Building upon the WSG Champagne Masters, the most in-depth certification program on the wines of Champagne, this is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enhance your learning and gain hands-on tasting experience in the region itself

This in-person course will take place from October 5 to 10, 2025 in Reims, the region’s wine center. This 6-day intensive classroom, field trip and tasting experience will be taught by Champagne wine experts and educators of the Champagne Masters program, Essi Avellan MW and Peter Liem.

Join us for an immersive program complete with in-depth, structured lectures covering all aspects of Champagne wine production, terroir, houses and growers. Additionally, this program features extensive tutored tastings with top-quality wines from some of the region’s most iconic houses and producers.

The course curriculum for this immersive, in-person experience has been developed to supplement the WSG Champagne Masters certification. This experience is open to new, current or past students of the WSG Champagne Masters certification.

What's Included

Registration in the WSG Champagne Masters certification program starting online on February 18, 2025.*

18 hours of in-person classroom instruction with extensive tutored tastings of over 40 wines.

Lunch will be provided on both days in the field.

A fine selection of champagne during the included meals

A welcome dinner at one of the fine and reputable restaurants in Reims

Two full-day vineyard excursion trips inclulding stops in Reims, the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs or the Vallée de la Marne

Farewell lunch at one of the most reputable restaurants in Champagne.

Individually proctored online exam, to be taken up to 18 months from the date of deposit payment. Please note: the exam is not offered during the course week in Reims.

Access to the online Champagne Masters certification course, starting on February 18, 2025 will be granted once your deposit is received. Students will have access to the online classroom, course materials, and the ability to complete the online exam for a duration of 18 months following initial course registration. A deduction of $300 USD can be made from the total price if students have been previously or are currently enrolled in the Champagne Masters program.

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Itinerary & Pricing

Join the waitlist!

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About Your Instructors

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Essi Avellan MW

Your Wine Educator in Champagne

  • Master of Wine specializing in Champagne and sparkling wines
  • Author of Essi Avellan’s Champagne
  • Co-author of Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wines
  • Esteemed judge at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships
  • Organizer of the Grand Champagne Helsinki event

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Peter Liem

Your Wine Educator in Champagne

• Author of the award-winning book Champagne
• Author of ChampagneGuide.net, an award-winning online guide to the wines and wine producers of Champagne
• Former senior editor, critic and tasting director for Wine & Spirits magazine
• Contributor to The World of Fine Wine, Decanter, The Art of Eating and The San Francisco Chronicle

Who is this course for?

This course is designed as a supplement to the WSG Champagne Master Certification course and to provide a 360-degree view of this world-renown wine producing region. It comprises in-class lessons, tastings led by regional experts and on-site visits to key producers in the region. This study abroad tour is – first and foremost – an educational trip for advanced students of wine, intentionally scheduled to commence after students have completed a full six months of online learning with WSG. Candidates are expected to have studied materials provided in advance and arrive prepared with a working knowledge of viticulture and winemaking, specifically related to the wines of Champagne.

Is this course for you?
Location / Venue:

The classroom study of this immersion into the wines of Champagne will take place in the comfortable and well-equipped conference room of the Hotel de la Paix. This venue is located in the very center of Reims, close to hotels, shops, restaurants and other sites of interest. Its modern facilities make it the ideal base of operations for this exciting course. Many students also find it easy and convenient to stay in this hotel for the duration of the trip.

About the wines tasted:

With access to many great champagne houses and producers, your instructors have selected wines representing a broad cross-section of different terroirs, winemaking philosophies and styles. The wine selection has been carefully curated to illustrate the key learning objectives of the course. You will taste approximately 15 wines in the classroom each day as well as many more during your scheduled field trip days and during the included meals.

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Program Schedule

October 5-10, 2025 in Reims, the region's wine capital.

Date

Morning (9:00am - 12:30pm)

Afternoon (1:30pm - 5:00pm)

Sun Oct 5, 2025

Students should arrive in Reims no later than 6pm

Welcome aperitif-dinner in Reims

Mon Oct 6, 2025

CHAMPAGNE FUNDAMENTALS

  • Overview of Champagne Master Porgram and how to get the most out of this week
  • Review Champagne fundamentals
  • Understand how to taste Champagne and write an effective tasting note
  • Assess the quality of Champagne

FACTORS AFFECTING HOUSE STYLES

  • Impact of grape varieties
  • Malolactic fermentation 
  • Fermentation and aging vessels
  • Oxidative vs. reductive winemaking
  • Reserve wine programs
  • Dosage

Tue Oct 7, 2025

ALL DAY FIELD TRIP - REIMS

Champagne house visit &

Lunch at a restaurant (included)

ALL DAY FIELD TRIP - REIMS

Champagne house visit and vineyard tour

Wed Oct 8, 2025

  • Recap: Lessons learned on field trip
  • The evolution of NV to multi-vintage
  • Mapping Champagne house styles
  • Blind tasting


Free time over lunch break

THE CHAMPAGNE REGION: THE BIG PICTURE

  • Climate and climate change
  • Geology, topography, soils 
  • Viticultural practices
  • Champagne terroirs: deep dive part 1
  • Tasting

Thu Oct 9, 2025

ALL DAY FIELD TRIP - CÔTE DES BLANCS

Grower visit(s) and vineyard tours

Included restaurant meal

ALL DAY FIELD TRIP - VALLÉE DE LA MARNE OR MONTAGNE DE REIMS

Grower visit(s) and vineyard tours

Fri Oct 10, 2025

  • Recap: Lessons learned on field trip
  • Climate and climate change
  • Tasting
  • Relevance of the Echelle des Crus today
  • Terroir and the single village
  • Terroir and the single parcel

Free time over lunch break

  • The rise of still champagne
  • Tasting: non-sparkling champagnes
  • Champagne terroirs: deep dive part 2

Late Farewell aperitif with lunch in Reims (included)

Students are free to book their departure travel for after 4:00pm this day or stay in Reims if they wish

About the Champagne Masters Program

The five-day in-person experience in Champagne was designed to add supplementary material to the WSG Champagne Masters program, the most in-depth certification program on the wines of Champagne. Led by world-renowned wine experts and authors, this completely revised and updated program will take you deep into the exquisite landscape and extraordinary winemaking process of Champagne while tapping into the spirit and mindset of those who found a way to capture the bubble in the bottle.

Study Outcomes

Describe the taste and key structural components of wines from Champagne accurately and articulately.

Evaluate the quality of wines from Champagne and understand how to differentiate the nuances of regions, styles and grape varieties.

Understand how the terroir of the Champagne region influences the style and quality of the wines produced by visiting various vineyards with different terroirs.

Understand how winemaking practices and options influence the style and quality of Champagne by visiting key producers and meeting top chefs de caves.

Complement the Champagne Master Program through a combination of in-class tuition and on-site visits.

Advocate for Champagne clearly and articulately by establishing connections with champagne growers, top maisons and industry peers.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll learn so much more than you would on your own! Internationally renowned instructors are with you at all times throughout the week, giving fascinating information, making sure you understand the nuances and subtleties of the region and its wines, and responding to all of your questions. You will have amazing tastings in the classroom and get access to estates you would not be able to visit on your own. We have the highest-level contacts in each region.

You’ll also get to taste fascinating wines at each estate, and you’ll be welcomed as an honored guest. Your instructors have worked in the region for many years. This has allowed them to cultivate extensive experience and contacts within the region. You’ll get expert information about the wine business there, and an insider’s take on local culture.

The immersive experience makes the most of the limited time you have in the wine region and ensures that you get a thorough overview of the region and its wines. You get the camaraderie and pleasure of exploring the wine region with other like-minded people who are as passionate about wine as you are. Your instructor will translate for the group at all times, so you will have no communication issues, as many winemakers have limited English.

Preparing for the trip

Please ask the instructor if there is enough time before the end of the visit for you to make your purchase without impeding the progress and timing of the trip.

It is very rare that estates offer international shipping. If you would like to purchase wine, we recommend that you ask your government’s customs office for their rules and regulations if you intend to bring wine back into your country, or have wine shipped to you. You always have the option of bringing wine home with you in your checked luggage. A specialized wine suitcase is perfect for this. Depending on your home country, this amount will vary. You may have to pay some amount of duty on your wine when you go through customs. Therefore, it's best to check with your local authorities for further information.

MEALS

For Masters Program Immersion: these experiences typically include a welcome dinner, a farewell meal, as well lunches during your field trip days. These meals will be paired with selected local wines. The rest of the meals are at your expense. WSG and/or the instructor will provide a list of some dining options for you to consult.

Instructors & Course Assitants

Our trip instructors are among the most renowned and respected wine professionals in the wine business. They are also professional wine educators who are absolutely passionate about the region and its wines. You can see a full biography of the instructor for each trip on the corresponding page, so you can know exactly with whom you'll be touring and learning. Most are native English speakers (American or British), and all other instructors speak English fluently. 

Our instructors have that special combination of high-level wine expertise, personal warmth, friendliness, and excellent leadership skills. They'll accompany you every day, throughout the trip, and will be able to answer all of your questions about the wines of the region you’ll be visiting (and about wine in general).

Booking a trip

Yes, we strongly encourage you to purchase a very comprehensive travel insurance package once you have paid your non-refundable deposit for a Study Trip. Note that many plans require you to purchase the insurance very soon after your deposit payment (some require it within 14 days). There are any number of things that can happen that can cause cancellation or interruption of package travel, and travel insurance can help cover the costs you incur as a result. 

You can find travel insurers easily and there are sites where you can compare policies (for example, Insure My Trip). Be sure to read policies very carefully before you purchase. Include your airfare, train fare, and any other expenses you will have in addition to the price of the study trip itself. We highly recommend getting a “cancel for any reason” policy, which offers the best coverage. Travel experts say “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel,” so don’t skimp on this important coverage!

Have a different question? Feel free to contact us.

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