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, an intimate dinner with a Michelin-starred chef, 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 residence—closed to the public—where you’ll share a private dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred chef and gain insider access to the legendary Crayères cellars. You’ll meet growers whose bottles rarely leave France, 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 white 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.