A wine fan in Epernay (and Champagne)

A few weeks ago, when I was sitting on a terrace in Bloemendaal, I got a call from @sommeljj. “Shall we go to Champagne?” I didn't need to be asked twice. Let's go! I mean: on y va!

With a PCR test in hand, we happily headed south. A weekend in Champagne wouldn't be so bad after all. It's only a 4.5-hour drive from Rotterdam. Why don't we do this more often? In this article, I'll take you along on our weekend getaway to the vibrant wine region. What's there to see and do, and what shouldn't you miss? Here are some great tips for a wonderful weekend getaway.

Don't feel like reading? We recap our weekend getaway in the podcast episode "No Champagne No Gain."

Wine shops

520 (Épernay)

You can't just walk into the big houses without an invitation. Want to sample the best of the best? Then pop into a wine shop. 520 in Épernay has an impressive selection. Even the cult champagnes of Jacques Selosse were displayed on the shelves. Fantastic.

*PS: You’d better skip the Janisson-Baradon Champagne – the shop located on Épernay’s central roundabout.

520 – 1 Avenue Paul Chandon, 51200 Épernay

Salvatori since 1952

Near the central roundabout in Épernay, you'll find Salvatori from 1952. It was here that I discovered Jean Josselin's champagnes from the Côte des Bar. And that's the beauty of this shop: they have a wide selection, from small, affordable farms to the more exclusive varieties. Be sure to spend an hour here so you can take it all in and/or ask the shopkeeper for a tip.

Salvatori since 1952 – 11 Rue Flodoard, 51200 Épernay, France

Wine bars and restaurants

The Avenue Cave (Épernay)

Can't choose between all the houses on the avenue? Then a visit to The Avenue Cave A pleasant pit stop. Tip: if you order a special champagne, the sommelier will offer a sip too. He'll instantly become your friend for the rest of the evening.

Au Bon Manger (Reims)

This is one of those places where the wine list instantly gives you FOMO. “It's where the locals go and the pilgrims find their way”, stands on Star Wine List . And that says it all. You just want to go here. Period. Unfortunately, they're closed. They couldn't handle the influx of wine tourists just wanting to snap photos of the unique bottles for Instagram. They do cater to groups, by appointment.

Sacré Brunch (Épernay) and Sacré Bistro (Reims)

Admittedly, we've only been to the brunch shop in Épernay, but it's one of those places that's handy to know. They're open on Sundays, which is always a plus in Épernay. It's also handy during the week if you need to work on your laptop. In Reims, there's the Sacré Bistro where you can have a pretty fancy drink, so that's on the list too.

Lunch at La Gare (Le Mesnil)

On the recommendation of Agrapart (also a champagne grower where we had arranged a flying visit) we went to lunch at La Gare. La Gare is a quite French restaurant located in the dilapidated train station of Le Mesnil.

It doesn't immediately look like you're tasting the crème de la crème of champagnes here, but nothing could be further from the truth. We start with Les Carelles by Jacques Selosse and finish with Cristal Champagne by Louis Roederer. And an empty wallet...

The station – 3 Place de la Gare, 51190 Le Mesnil-sur-Oge r

Perchingbar (Vezelay)

Admittedly, this experience wasn't the best. In fact, we were served the worst champagne of the entire weekend. Nevertheless, this unique bar deserves a place on this list. We visited the treehouse on the first day of its reopening. It took them a while to find good champagne and customer service.

But okay, we didn't make it easy for them, because we'd just been told we weren't allowed to jump. And who jumps (unconsciously) for a nice photo after all... Oh well, it was really beautiful there. Once they've found their groove again, I'm sure everything will be fine.

Perchingbar , Verzy (entrance 21 euros including a coupe)

Champagne houses

Strolling on the Avenue de Champagne (Epernay)

It's one of the most expensive streets in the world. L'Avenue de Champagne. Although street? It's a super chic avenue, where some of the grand marques of Champagne are located.

Big names such as Moët & Chandon (30 million bottles per year), De Venoge (1 million bottles), Perrier-Jouët (3 million bottles) and Leclerc-Briant (130,000 bottles) can be found here. Many of the houses located here can be visited. Prepare for a very touristy tour. For a tour including a train ride, you should contact the champagne house Mercier They are experts in the real field of tours. According to their website, they do 150,000 visits a year. Don't call me 😉

But you can also settle down at one of the terraces. Many houses have a tasting room with or without a terrace. Stroll down the Avenue and find your favorite champagne. De Venoge has a nice seating area, but the champagne didn't blow us away. We prefer Leclerc-Briant, where you can even find the Abbys by the glass You know: the champagne that has been lying on the seabed for 18 months.

Roger Manceaux

I discovered Roger Manceaux years ago and have stocked up on it every year since then. It's a Grower Champagne , meaning the man owns his own vineyards and buys little or no grapes from elsewhere. Roger Manceaux is no longer behind the tanks; these days, Patrick Manceaux is calling the shots.

You can pop in on a whim, but it always helps to send an email beforehand. That way everyone knows what to expect. Since many Dutch people prefer to sample for free and not take anything home, they now charge a fee for tastings. Keep that in mind.

Roger Manceaux – 5 Rue de la Liberté, 51500 Rilly-la-Montagne

More Champagne houses to visit? Check out this blog >
You won't get in without an invitation to the big names, but at some of the smaller houses, such as Henri Heucq, you might have a chance if you send an email.

Sleeping places

Bubble8 (Épernay)

Most people choose Reims when visiting the Champagne region, but Épernay is just as charming. It's much smaller – 23,000 inhabitants compared to 185,000. That makes it manageable. From our apartment, we can get everywhere in no time.

Bubble8 is a small apartment complex in the heart of Épernay. You can choose from a studio or an apartment for 2, 4, or 6 people. We stayed in the "Vertigo" and had everything we could wish for. There was even a bottle of champagne waiting for us upon arrival. If that's not a great way to start your weekend, I don't know what is.

More information can be found here.

More nice hotels and apartments in the Champagne region? Read this article >

More travel?

Le Club has even more great wine tours in store for you. You can also easily combine the Champagne region with a trip to Paris .

• A road trip to the Ahr: wines from the Ahr region
• A wine lover in Burgundy
• A wine lover in Beaujolais

Champagne Weekend

A weekend in Champagne? Do it! The best part: it's so easy. It's less than a five-hour drive from Rotterdam, including a coffee break along the way. Immerse yourself in French life and order plenty of champagne glasses. Vive la France!