Choose a Champagne producer:
Champagne PANNIER
A personal favourite, founded in 1899 near to Epernay. Pannier moved to Château-Thierry in the Marne Valley in the late 1930’s when they purchased fabulous mediaeval cellars there (2km of underground cellars on 2 levels). A visit to the mediaeval cellars forms part of any guided tour (these have to be booked in advance). There you will see a rock carving of an archer that dates back to the 14thC; this is now Champagne Pannier’s logo. Three varieties of champagne grapes are used – Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. The wines are classic, elegant and well balanced, and are excellent value.
Visit Champagne Pannier.
Journey time from Dunkirk: 3 hours.
Address:23, rue Roger Catillon 02400 Château-Thierry Tel: +33 (0)3 23 69 51 30
Opening times: Mon-Sat 9am to 12.30pm; 2pm to 6.30pm; closed Sundays and public holidays. Guided tours: book a few days in advance [6 euros per person].
Champagne DÉHU Père et Fils.
A family enterprise in the Marne Valley on the Champagne Tourist Route. The Déhu family have been winegrowers for seven generations now, and are committed to sustainable farming, using organic fertilisers and picking the grapes by hand. They have been members since 2002 of FARRE, an organisation that aims to promote organic and sustainable farming. Only vintage wine is used in the making of champagne Déhu, with Pinot Meunier as the principal varietal for a fruity aroma. There’s a little museum on site (Le Verocien, Musée de la vigne et du vin) tracing the history of champagne-making and displaying generations of traditional champagne-making equipment, but visits need to be booked in advance. Visit Champagne Déhu.
Journey time from Dunkirk: 3hrs 15mins – with part of the journey through delightful little villages.
Address: 3 rue Saint Georges 02650 Fossoy Tel: +33 (0)3 23 71 90 47
Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am to midday; 2pm to 6pm. Open on Saturday morning by appointment only. [It’s always best in any event to phone before turning up just in case Madame has nipped out unexpectedly to do some shopping!]
Champagne PIERRE PAILLARD.
The Paillard family have been winegrowers in Bouzy since 1768, producing both a Grand Cru champagne and a superbly balanced Bouzy Rouge vintage wine that’s ideal for laying down. The vineyards of Bouzy have been famous for centuries. When Louis XIV was crowned at Reims in 1654 he ordered Bouzy Rouge to be served. In 1935, the Bouzy Vineyard obtained Grand Cru status. Pinot Noir is the varietal common both to Bouzy Rouge and champagne. Paillard’s 2000 vintage champagne is absolutely wonderful. Visit Pierre Paillard.
Journey time from Dunkirk: 3 hours
Address: 2 rue du XXe siècle 51150 Bouzy Tel: +33 (0)3 26 57 08 04
Opening times: Mon-Sat 9am to midday; 2pm to 5.30/6pm. Cellar visits by appointment from 9.30am to midday, 2pm to 5.30pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays.
Champagne HERBERT BEAUFORT.
Friendly and welcoming, the family have been wine growers since 1820. Their vines are grown primarily in the Grand Cru communes of Bouzy, Ambonnay and Tours-sur-Marne, with Pinot Noir as the principal varietal. They produce both Grand Cru and Premier Cru champagnes, vintage and non vintage. Their Grand Cru Rosé has been enthusiastically recommended. They also produce a Bouzy Rouge Appellation Coteaux Champenois Contrôlée. Visit Herbert Beaufort.
Journey time from Dunkirk: 3 hours
Address: Champagne Herbert Beaufort 28 rue de Tours 51150 Bouzy Tel: +33 (0)3 26 57 01 34
Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am-11.30am; 2.30pm-5.30pm; Saturday 10am to 12pm, and 3pm-5pm. Closed Sunday and public holidays.
Champagne JM GOBILLARD & Fils.
There is a long history of winegrowing in the Gobillard family. Their holding extends over 25 hectares of premier cru at Hautvillers (the town is very proud of being the place where in 1681 Dom Pérignon produced his first bubbly!) which lies just to the north of Epernay. The harvest (vendanges) is entirely manual, starting in late September through to early October. The varietals used are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay Blanc. The wines remain in the cellars for between 15 months and 4 years (19 months minimum for vintage). Gobillard produce both vintage and non-vintage champagnes. Their Grande Réserve is a great standard champagne. Visit Champagne Gobillard.
Journey time from Dunkirk: 3 hours
Address: Champagne JM Gobillard et Fils Weekdays: Zone Artisanale (ZA) de Dizy 51530 Dizy Tel: +33 (0)3 26 51 00 24
Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am to 12pm; 2pm to 5.30pm. Weekends: 38 rue de l’Eglise (opposite Hautvillers Abbey) 51160 Hautvillers (3mins drive from Dizy) Tel: +33 (0)3 26 59 44 20 Sat-Sun 10.30am to12.00pm; 2.30pm to5.30pm. [Note: opened on Sundays between 01 March to Christmas].
Champagne GUY CADEL.
Cadel brings together the best in traditional methods and latest vinification techniques, with emphasis nonetheless on keeping the whole process as natural as possible. They plant 10 hectares of vines, equally split between Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The average age of the vines is 24 years, with the oldest 45 years. They go for a low yield, using only organic fertilisers, compost and fresh bark, in the conviction that this allows them to get the best in flavour and aroma out of each vine and bunch of grapes. The Cadel family have been winegrowers for well over a century, winning some of the top prizes. Their Grande Cuvée 2000 (4-star rating in Guide Hachette) is a highly recommended blanc de blanc. Their Grande Réserve 2002 is also recommended by Hachette (2-star). Visit Guy Cadel.
Journey time from Dunkirk: 3 hours
Address: Champagne Guy Cadel 13, rue Jean Jaurès 51530 Mardeuil Tel: +33 (0)3 26 55 24 59.
Opening times: Mon-Fri in principle 9am to midday; 2pm to 6pm but, as Madame charmingly puts it, always check in advance as Monsieur is likely to be tending the vines while she may have gone to buy a loaf of bread! Saturday: strictly by appointment only.