The storied history of Champagne – one of the world’s great wine regions – will take on another dimension this summer with the launch of the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa in the French countryside.
The hotel will make its debut as the destination’s first contemporary luxury hotel, which embraces the lush bounty of the wineries and the surrounding Unesco World Heritage Site. Guests will have exclusive access to private Champagne houses, harvesting sessions with local wine producers and tastings with Champagne producers, personally curated by the in-house concierge team.
The Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa will also include world-class destination spa spanning 16,000sq ft (1,486sq m), created in partnership with French skincare brand Biologique Recherche.
The wellness centre comprises nine treatment rooms, state of the art fitness facilities, a wood-lined yoga studio, eucalyptus-infused sauna, manicure and pedicure stations and a mosaic tiled hammam.
Completing the experience are two temperature-controlled, chaise-longue-lined swimming pools – one indoor, one outdoor – along with dedicated staff who will deliver juice blends and guide guests to multiple relaxation lounges.
Biologique Recherche will offer signature treatments, including the ‘Soin seconde peau / Second skin treatment’, a regenerating and lifting facial treatment. Gharieni has supplied ten MO1wellness beds for the spa. Spa packages and retreats will be available throughout the year.
The Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa is situated in the middle of the vineyards that stripe the hills of Epernay, the capital of Champagne, and the historic villages of Champillon and Hautvillers of Dom Perignon fame.
Reimagining a wine-country retreat for all seasons, local Reims-based architect Giovanni Pace has designed the property in the style of a contemporary amphitheatre, incorporating the original 19th Century Post House where it is said that King Charles X of France stopped over before heading to Reims for his coronation.
Each of the 49 bedrooms and suites affords views of the Champagne valley, and are appointed with Hermès amenities.
The original property has been closed since 2014, after it was acquired by Boston-based Champagne Hospitality collection, a group of boutique luxury hotels and spas that includes the Le Barthelemy Hotel & Spa in St. Barths.
The hotel will be led by Nicolas Béliard, formerly general manager of the Peninsula Paris.
"It is my great pleasure and privilege to introduce Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa," said Béliard. "We are embarking upon something absolutely unique in this very special place, enveloping our guests in a sensory experience that is wholly restorative and as uplifting as the bubbles in a glass of champagne. The beauty of our surroundings will be matched only by the inner sanctuary we’re creating at Royal Champagne."
Two-star Michelin chef Jean-Denis Rieubland will be the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa’s Executive Chef, where he will lead the two gastronomic dining experiences – a gourmet dining room, Le Royal, and a more casual, all-day restaurant, Bellevue.
Rieubland’s cuisine will be influenced by the local surroundings, working closely with farm producers of the region. He will also be developing a Chef’s garden on a large terrace overlooking the hills of Épernay.
"I feel very inspired by the local organic ingredients and wine of the Champagne region and plan to keep this sun-kissed freshness in my cuisine", says Rieubland.
