Champagne is France's most celebrated sparkling wine region, stretching across the northeast around Reims and Épernay. The appellation covers only méthode champenoise wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. Its chalky hillside vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wine tourism is well-established here, with major Champagne houses, independent growers, and historic chalk cellars open to visitors. Harvest season in September is the ideal time to visit. Accommodation options range from city-centre boutique hotels to countryside guesthouses nestled among the vines.