We spent about a week in the Champagne region, touring wineries, visiting vineyards and tasting lots of champagne.

Here is Beverley and our Teutonic speed machine - the Beems.

Troyes, France. This is a shot of classic northern French architecture - timbered houses.

Our hosts in Champagne were the Tarlant family who run a winery in Oeilly (close to Epernay). We stayed in their converted grapepickers cottages with this panoramic view of the vineyards.

Jack and his hero - Dom Perignon - who is credited with perfecting the art of blending wine for champagne.

In Epernay, the big champagne houses line the main street. This is the house of Moet & Chandon and our first tasting of the trip. Yum.

Our second tour and degustation was at Billecart-Salmon where they still use the traditional, wooden grape press.

Our third was a private tour of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin - which remains our favorite champagne.

The rolling hills and vineyards of the champagne region made for wonderful views on our driving tour.

Reims Cathedral is one of the more spectacular gothic cathedrals of France (and there are plenty!).

One of our favorite artists, Marc Chagall, created these spectacular stained glass windows in the rear of Reims Cathedral.

This restaurant, Le Millenaire, is where Jack had one of his favorite meals ever (except those that Beverley has lovingly prepared for him…).

Another gratuitous shot of the beems!