Welcome & Bienvenue!
Congratulations on saying yes to this experience. This page is your go-to guide for our France retreat in the Champagne region. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to feel prepared, grounded, and excited – from travel tips and packing suggestions to what our days will actually feel like once we’re there.
You do not need to over-plan this trip. Your only real job is to arrive open, curious, and ready to enjoy beautiful places, meaningful connection, and a slower, richer pace of life.
Bookmark this page, check back as we get closer, and trust that you’re in very good hands.
Chateau Address:
Château de Cormicy
Rue Désiré Masse
51220 Cormicy
France
Champagne Tasting Outfits: Layered outfits are key. Bring sweaters, light jackets, or wraps for tastings, as Champagne cellars and evenings can be cool.
Daily Yoga & Movement Clothes: Comfortable yoga or workout wear for daily morning sessions.
Casual Daytime Clothing: Easy, stylish pieces for exploring villages, lunches, and free time. Think effortless, walkable, and mix-and-match.
Dressy Outfit for Our Final Evening: At least one nicer outfit for our closing dinner together. Dressy casual to elegant-whatever feels aligned for you.
Comfortable Walking Shoes: Non-negotiable. You’ll want shoes you can comfortably walk in on cobblestones, vineyard paths, and around town.
Small Day Bag or Crossbody: Perfect for excursions, tastings, and wandering.
Personal Essentials: Medications, toiletries, glasses/contacts, plug converters, and anything you don’t want to hunt for abroad.
There’s also an expectation of respect in shared spaces and for one another-what’s shared in our retreat space stays in our retreat space. This is an inclusive, welcoming environment, and we ask that political or polarizing topics be left at home. Our time together is meant for connection, not division.
Phones are encouraged less (don’t worry, we’ll be taking plenty of photos), and presence is encouraged more.
Any and all changes and communication will be via our WhatsApp Group.
We will host an optional Zoom call prior to the retreat. While attendance is not required, it is highly recommended as it gives you the opportunity to ask any remaining questions, walk through final logistics, and connect with other women joining the retreat. It’s also a great way to put faces to names and arrive in France already feeling grounded and familiar with the group.
DATES COMING SOON.
(Subject to minor changes)
Your French escape begins as you arrive at our private château and settle into the rhythm of the Champagne countryside. Enjoy a light apéro of seasonal hors d’oeuvres - time to unpack, exhale, and arrive fully after travel. As evening approaches, we’ll gather for a relaxed Welcome Reception and Champagne toast, an opportunity to meet your fellow retreaters and officially open our time together. The night unfolds with a farm-to-table French dinner, accompanied by live musical accompaniment, setting the tone for the unforgettable days ahead.
Ease into your first full day in France surrounded by the quiet beauty of the Champagne countryside. We’ll begin with a gentle morning yoga practice to ground, stretch, and restore after travel, followed by a relaxed breakfast of fresh croissants, local fruit, and French-pressed coffee. The afternoon is intentionally spacious, inviting you to explore and restore from travel at your own pace. Spend time on the château grounds, book an optional massage, journal, ride bikes into town, or linger over a café lunch nearby. There is no formal group lunch today - light snacks are available on-site, or enjoy the freedom to dine casually in town. As the evening approaches, we’ll gather for an intimate in-house Champagne tasting featuring a private selection from the château owners - a thoughtful introduction to the region’s styles, stories, and terroir. The day concludes with a relaxed dinner at the château, bringing us back together in conversation and ease.
We’ll begin the day with a grounding morning yoga practice, followed by a relaxed French breakfast at the château. From there, we’ll head into the heart of the Champagne region for a full day immersed in Épernay - a town synonymous with elegance, heritage, and world-renowned Champagne. The morning begins with a guided stroll along the iconic Avenue de Champagne, where grand façades and legendary cellars set the tone for the day. We’ll pause for a refined three-course lunch in Épernay, thoughtfully paired with a glass of Champagne and seasonal regional flavors. In the afternoon, we’ll step into Champagne prestige with an exclusive visit to the historic cellars of a famous Champagne House, followed by a double tasting of their iconic Champagnes. By late afternoon, we’ll return to the château to unwind and recharge. As evening approaches, we’ll gather for an apéritif and conversation before sitting down together for a relaxed dinner at the château.
The day begins with a gentle morning yoga practice, followed by a relaxed French breakfast at the château. From there, we’ll head into the countryside to experience a quieter, more intimate side of the Champagne region - a day centered on connection to the land, the people, and the stories behind the bubbles. Our morning includes a visit to a small, family-run Champagne house, where you’ll meet the producer and learn firsthand about their craft, philosophy, and relationship to the vineyards. We’ll enjoy a leisurely winery lunch served in the heart of the vines, fully immersed in the rhythms of rural Champagne life. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the historic village of Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon lived and worked - often referred to as the Cradle of Champagne. We’ll continue the day with a second boutique Champagne house visit, offering a different expression of terroir and time for meaningful conversation with the grower. By late afternoon, we’ll return to the château to unwind and recharge. As evening approaches, we’ll gather for an apéritif and conversation before sitting down together for a relaxed dinner at the château - an easy, grounded close to a beautifully paced day.
Our final full day together begins with morning yoga, followed by a relaxed French breakfast at the château. From there, we’ll head into Reims for a curated Heritage & Art de Vivre experience that brings the region’s history, culture, and Champagne legacy to life. We’ll explore the awe-inspiring Reims Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece woven into centuries of French history, before discovering the elegant Carnegie Library, an Art Deco gem tucked into the heart of the city. Lunch is enjoyed at a historic French restaurant in Reims, complete with a glass of Champagne and time to savor the city’s rhythm. In the afternoon, we’ll step into Champagne prestige with an exclusive private visit to a Legacy Champagne House renowned for its chalk cellars and striking contemporary art installations, followed by a final stop at the Veuve Clicquot boutique for a touch of Yellow Label magic and thoughtful souvenirs. By late afternoon, we’ll return to the château to unwind and prepare for our final evening together. As night falls, we’ll gather for a celebratory Farewell Gala Dinner-an invitation to dress your best, enjoy live musical accompaniment, raise a glass, and toast to the friendships, joy, and memories created throughout our time in Champagne.
Our final morning begins with a gentle closing circle - a time for final reflections, shared gratitude, and farewell photos to capture our time together. We’ll then gather for a Champagne brunch celebration, savoring one last unhurried moment of laughter and connection before departures. Depart with full hearts, new friendships, and a lingering taste of Champagne life.
If your schedule allows, we highly encourage extending your stay and enjoying more of France while you’re already here. All of the options below are easy to access by train from Paris and/or the Reims area and pair beautifully with the Champagne region experience.
Palace of Versailles: A must-see if you’ve never been. Spend a half or full day exploring the palace, gardens, and grounds. I spent two and a half days and still felt like there was more to explore. Lots of lovely restaurants and shopping in the town as well. Easily reached by train from central Paris and perfect as a day trip or overnight add-on.
Bruges: Yes, Belgium-but incredibly easy and worth it. From Paris, Bruges is a simple train ride and offers storybook canals, historic charm, chocolate shops, and relaxed wandering. Ideal for 1–2 nights.
Strasbourg: A beautiful blend of French and German culture with charming old town streets, canals, and incredible food. Strasbourg is accessible by train from Reims or Paris and makes a lovely slower-paced extension.
I am humbled and incredibly grateful for the privilege of guiding you on this experience. I don’t take your trust in me lightly and am also ridiculously giddy to share my favorite place on earth with you. Cheers my love!
