Behind the Cellar Door:

Champagne + Alsace

A Once-in-a-lifetime Journey with NCAA Basketball National Champion Marcus Ginyard

Step beyond the gates of Champagne’s most storied house and into a France few will ever know. For friends of UNC, this journey opens rare doors—to the private residence of Charles Heidsieck, intimate dinners, and insider encounters with the winemakers shaping Champagne’s and Alsace’s futures.

From the elegance of Reims to the storybook villages of Alsace, you’ll taste, toast, and travel as Marcus Ginyard’s honored guests—immersed in the beauty, friendship, and access that define journeys along The Olive Road.

What Awaits

This exclusive week weaves together the grandeur of Champagne and the charm of Alsace in one seamless, privately hosted experience.

Your time in Champagne includes accommodation at the Charles Heidsieck’s Residence Eisenhower—closed to the public—where you’ll share also share a sommelier-guided tasting of Rare Champagne with food pairings and gain insider access to the legendary Crayères cellars. You’ll meet growers whose bottles rarely leave France, dine with them in their cellars, and experience a side of Champagne that most collectors only dream of.

From there, the road leads east to Alsace, where fairytale villages, crisp mountain air, and aromatic wines await. Through The Olive Road’s personal connections, guests will share tables and toasts with acclaimed winemakers, dine in intimate family settings, and take part in a local harvest festival known only to those who live there.

And then there’s Paris—our grand finale. For one final night together, we’ll toast a week unlike any other.

Why This Trip Is Irreplaceable

This journey could only exist because of the relationships behind it.
We aren’t visiting Champagne and Alsace the way tourists do.
We are stepping into the inner circle — welcomed by winemakers, chefs, and hosts who rarely open their doors to the public.

Our guests won’t just taste the wines;
you’ll feel the heritage in the Crayères beneath Reims,
the pride in a grower’s family cellar,
the lively joy of a village fête that the world hasn’t yet discovered.

Every plate, every glass, every conversation is curated with intention.
This is a week built on trust and friendship —
an invitation into a way of life that most will never glimpse.

If travel is about collecting moments,
these are the ones that stay with you.

Highlights at a Glance

  • Private access to the historic chalk cellars of Charles Heidsieck — sealed to the public, opened just for you.

  • Accommodations at a Charles Heidsieck’s Eisenhower Residence, a home reserved only for honored guests of the House.

  • Behind-the-veil visits with both legendary Houses and visionary grower-producers shaping the future of Champagne and Alsace.

  • A Parisian evening of full festivity and conviviality.

  • Hidden gem restaurants with some of the best Champagne lists in the world — the kind of places locals never share.

  • Wander into Alsace, where vineyards seem painted into storybook villages and winemakers pour from their hearts—for friends, not crowds.

  • Attend a local harvest festival, known only to insiders, where the community celebrates new wines, old traditions, and the joy of sharing them.

  • Market and cooking experiences with Kevin, turning the region’s treasures into unforgettable meals.

  • Expert hosting from Amy and Kevin — trusted insiders who unlock connection, context, and delight at every turn.

Dates & Availability