July 5th 2023

I can not deny it! I have some favourites in Épernay, so it felt like visiting old friends coming back to see and taste.

It is not only about the Champagne, but also about the ambience of the tasting – be it indoors or in the open. The weather was very wam this time, so a lot of the tastings happened in lovely gardens and front yards.

It is hard to pick a few, and hard to prioritise amongst these, so here is a list of five going up the street from the central roundabout up all of Avenue de Champagne.

1. Janisson Baradon

Situated in the roundabout, they did not have outdoor tasting this time, but the interior tasting room is cozy with a wall completely filled with black and white photographies of their history.

They also have a good store with not only house products, but also general Champagne related merchandise. And as everywhere very friendly staff.

Favourite Champagne this time: 7C – made not only with the three most common grapes but also with the other 4 grapes allowed for Champagne production

2. Perrier Jouet

The house that owns “le belle époque” – the style of the early 20th century, with the extravagant flowery and organic structures

Their indoor tasting room is for me the pinnacle of tasting rooms!

Favourite Champagne this time: Blanc de Blancs

3. Collard-Picard

Simply put a very stylish Champagne. Very clean in their taste profile. A young house.

Favourite Champagne this time: Although their Dom. Picard Blanc de Blancs is one of my all time favourites, my vote goes to Merveilles Rosé de Saignèe this time – an excellent specimen!

4. Leclerc Briant

This is a house that is more adventurous than most others; they store Champagne bottles at the bottom of the sea, they experiment with making rosé win that borders red wine, but everything with style.

Tasting is set in their front yard, and they even had a new capsule this year celebrating their 150th year. Congratulations!

Favourite Champagne this time: Blanc de Noirs

5. Elodie D

This became an instant favourite last time I visited Épernay. Tucked away on the other side of the roundabout at the end of the avenue, they have a beautiful garden for tasting but also a charming inside tasting bar.

Favourite: Blanc de Blancs – it went perfectly with both the cheese and the charcuterie. I certainly did not regret coming back here this year!

Next time I will have other favourites, but these 5 were the ones that stood out this year.

See you next time Épernay – next stop Paris!