Join us in May 2026 for our first-ever collaborative retreat, created in partnership with The Cultured Somm. This is a women-only journey into the heart of France’s most iconic wine region: Champagne. Designed for curious travelers, solo adventurers, and anyone who loves learning through taste and place, this intimate experience blends culture, connection, and beautifully crafted moments you’ll remember long after the bubbles fade.

While this retreat will be formatted a bit differently from our traditional Maison stays, the intention remains the same: warm community, thoughtful pacing, and meaningful experiences. Together, we’ll explore the villages, vineyards, and stories that define Champagne, guided by the deep knowledge and approachable expertise of Stephanie from The Cultured Somm.

Each day offers a balance of discovery and delight. Wander through historic towns, meet the makers behind small-production cuvées, and learn how terroir shapes every glass. Taste your way through family-run cellars, stroll golden vineyard paths, and enjoy long, laughter-filled meals that celebrate the flavors and traditions of the region.

This retreat invites you to experience Champagne beyond the sparkle. It's intentionally designed to help you understand Champagne's craft, heritage, and quiet elegance, one sip and one story at a time. Whether you arrive solo or with a friend, you’ll leave feeling inspired, connected, and enriched by both the region and the women who explore it with you.

Maison d'Amies (French for House of Female Friends) was born from our founder Stephanie Scobey's deep love of France, a desire to create space for women to slow down, reconnect, and feel at home in themselves. These women only retreats blend curated cultural experiences with true rest and intentional community. Each trip is designed to feel like a warm, extended exhale and is grounded in slow travel, regional connection, and the kind of soul-deep joy that lingers long after the journey ends. 

The Cultured Somm, founded by Stephanie Schmid, a former U.S. diplomat and advanced sommelier, takes fellow wine lovers on a journey to the heart of where wine meets wanderlust, through carefully curated, bespoke adventures across the world's most renowned wine regions. Each journey is centered around our founder's life and travel philosophy: cultivating joie de vivre, the French concept of the joy of experiencing life to its fullest.

Please read through these important FAQs. If you have additional questions that aren't answered here, please email our host at stephanie@maisondamies.com

This retreat is designed for women seeking meaningful connection, cultural immersion, and a slower, more intentional way to experience France. Whether you're traveling solo or with a friend, Maison d’Amies x The Cultured Somm: Champagne Edition welcomes those who crave deeper conversations, beautiful surroundings, and the joy of shared meals and unhurried days. 

This group will include up to 11 participants, plus the hosts Stephanie and Stephanie, as well our retreat staff. 

On the registration form, you will see a space to include if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies. We will do our best to meet all of these requests, if you have additional questions please email us directly to discuss. 

If you have severe food allergies, we advise you email us directly prior to booking so we can ensure this retreat is right for you. 

Our group will meet in Paris at 3:00 PM at our hotel M Social, where we’ll spend the night together. The following day, we’ll depart as a group on the train to Reims and the Champagne region, making travel seamless and stress-free.

This package also includes the return train transfer to Paris, which will arrive mid-afternoon (specific time TBD) at Paris Gare de l’Est Station. Guests who prefer to stay in the region longer or extend their trip independently can opt out of the group return transfer by emailing us at stephanie@maisondamies.com after booking your package.

Please note that after arrival back in Paris, guests are responsible for all further transportation, whether to the airport or a hotel if staying longer in the city.

To keep our retreats intimate and accessible, shared accommodations are the default. Unless you reserve the one available Solo Sleeper room for an additional cost, you’ll be paired with another guest in a thoughtfully arranged shared space. While many women come solo, we do our best to match guests based on sleep preferences and personality to ensure comfort and harmony.

Please note that transportation to the Paris hotel upon arrival and transportation from the train station upon return, are not included and are the responsibility of each guest. We’ll provide detailed arrival and departure guidance to make travel planning easier, and we’re happy to connect guests who wish to coordinate taxis or private transfers.

We recommend arriving in France at least one day early to acclimate and avoid travel stress. As with all Maison d’Amies retreats, we ask guests to arrive open-hearted, flexible, and respectful of the space and each other. It’s this shared spirit that makes the experience so meaningful.

Bienvenue! Arrive in Paris and make your way to our designated hotel, where you’ll settle in and take a moment to refresh after your journey. At 4:00 PM, we’ll gather as a group in the lobby of our hotel to meet, connect, and share a toast to the adventure ahead. The evening will unfold over a welcome dinner in the city, giving everyone a chance to get to know one another, savor your first taste of French cuisine, and set the tone for an unforgettable retreat.

After a leisurely breakfast in Paris, we’ll board the train together as a group, heading toward Reims, the historic heart of the Champagne region.

Upon arrival, our private driver will meet us at the train station and whisk us away to begin our adventure in Reims. We will explore famous Champagne houses, explore the heart of Reims and enjoy a delicious lunch. Today in Reims will give you your first taste of regional flavors before we continue on to our Champagne accommodations, where you’ll settle in for the remainder of your French escape.

The evening is yours to relax, explore the surroundings, or simply soak in the peaceful beauty of your new home for the week.

We’ll begin the morning at our hotel with a relaxed breakfast before gathering in the lobby to set out together for a full day in the heart of the Champagne region.

With a private driver leading the way, we’ll spend the day exploring a thoughtfully curated mix of Champagne houses, each offering a unique perspective on the region’s history, craftsmanship, and unmistakable sense of place. Between tastings, we’ll pause to enjoy a leisurely lunch together, savoring regional flavors and the easy rhythm of the day.

By early evening, we’ll return to our hotel for some well-earned downtime. Whether you choose to rest, journal, take a stroll, or simply enjoy being still, this pause is very much part of the experience.

Later this evening, we’ll reconvene for dinner, followed by a special group surprise: a moment designed to bring us together and close the day on a memorable note.

Today begins unhurried.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel: sleep in, take a quiet walk through the grounds, or indulge in the spa facilities (available at your discretion). Lunch is yours to enjoy at the hotel, allowing you to move at your own pace and savor the ease of the day.

In the early afternoon, we’ll gather once more and set out together to explore additional Champagne houses, selected for their craftsmanship, character, and sense of place. This afternoon offers a deeper look into the region, with tastings that highlight both tradition and innovation.

As evening approaches, we’ll enjoy dinner at a beloved local restaurant before returning to the hotel for a relaxed night in Champagne country.

After breakfast, we’ll meet to discover another side of Champagne, one defined by smaller, family-run houses and the people behind the labels.

Our day will unfold at an easy pace, with private tastings that offer insight into the artistry and individuality of these producers. Midday, we’ll pause for a picnic lunch set among the vines, a moment to enjoy the landscape, the wines, and the company.

The afternoon concludes with a final tasting before we return to the hotel. This evening, we’ll gather again for dinner together, followed by a quiet return to the hotel to rest and reflect on the day.

Our final full day begins with a private chocolate-making experience led by a local chocolatier, think a hands-on introduction to one of France’s most beloved indulgences with a Champagne flair.

From there, we’ll travel to Épernay for lunch, followed by a delightful afternoon exploring the Avenue de Champagne and indulging in additional tastings at distinguished houses. This day brings together everything the region does best: craftsmanship, elegance, and indulgence.

We’ll return to the hotel for downtime in the late afternoon, giving you space to unwind before we come together one last time.

Our farewell evening features a final luxury dinner at the hotel, this is a celebratory close to an unforgettable week in Champagne.

After breakfast, those returning to Paris will meet our private driver for transfer to the train station, ensuring a seamless and stress-free departure.

Hotel check-out is at 11:00 a.m., marking the conclusion of your time in Champagne, though the memories, connections, and lingering sparkle will travel home with you.