Champagne Day brings people around the world together in a shared toast, but nowhere does it sparkle quite like Épernay. Known as the capital of Champagne, the city pulses with the rhythm of its vineyards and cellars. Its grand Maisons, contemplative cellars, and festive spirit make it the perfect setting to honour the region’s most famous creation.
This year, I had the honour of celebrating Champagne Day in Épernay. This unforgettable evening was hosted by Épernay en Champagne Tourisme. The event marked two important milestones: the 10th anniversary of Champagne’s Coteaux, Maisons, and Caves being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the 100th anniversary of the Avenue de Champagne. The night brought together chefs, winemakers, and artisans for a masterclass on the region’s incredible diversity. Read about it all below!
Menu
What Is Champagne Day?
How the Night Unfolded
Wines & Pairings
Overall Thoughts
What Is Champagne Day?
Every year on the fourth Friday of October, Champagne lovers around the world raise a glass for Champagne Day, an international celebration of the world’s most iconic sparkling wine. Surprisingly, the idea was born in the USA. In 2009, Californian wine educator Chris Oggenfus encouraged people to share a glass online using the hashtag #ChampagneDay. What started as a small social media gesture has grown into a worldwide occasion to honour the history, craftsmanship, and joy of Champagne.
Around the world, people mark the day in their own way. Some use it as an opportunity to learn more about Champagne (its origins, styles, and traditions) in official events. Others treat it as a reason to pop a cork and celebrate the simple pleasure of sharing a bottle. Both capture the spirit of what Champagne represents: curiosity, celebration, and connection.
Here in the region of Champagne, the meaning runs even deeper. We’re not only celebrating the wine and terroir, but also the friends, families, and neighbours who bring it to life every day.
How the Night Unfolded
The evening took place inside the magnificent gilded City Hall of Épernay, once the private mansion of the Auban-Moët family. Built in the 19th century, the space shimmered with elaborate gold detailing, crystal chandeliers, and an opulent painted ceiling. It was an extraordinary setting for an intimate celebration of just one hundred guests.
Two Michelin-starred chefs and Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, Philippe Mille of Arbane and M Réceptions and Christophe Raoux of the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, joined forces for the evening. Together, they created pairings for eight prestigious cuvées, each showcasing a different side of Champagne’s terroirs and styles.
Throughout the night, Nicolas Rieffel, gastronomic host and former MasterChef France finalist, guided the experience. He introduced the chefs and winemakers, explained each pairing, and brought warmth and humour to every presentation.
Local artists and artisans also took part, including Bouchonnerie Barangé, Cooperage de Champagne, Marsault, Les Enfants de Bacchus, Le Clos Gallice, and Signorini Tartufi. Their presence really highlighted to collaborative spirit and know-how of the region.
Guests were greeted with a cocktail crafted especially for the occasion. Champagne Vollereaux was masterfully mixed with apricot, the delicate fruit lifting the wine’s freshness, making it a festive glass that was far too easy to drink. I want to try to recreate it myself!
Wines & Pairings
Eight Champagne producers partnered for the evening, each bringing their own style and story to the table. Their cuvées reflected the remarkable diversity of the region, from grand maisons to independent growers, from structured and mineral to round and generous. Together, they offered a snapshot of what makes Champagne so endlessly fascinating.
Michelin-starred chefs Philippe Mille and Christophe Raoux teamed up for a culinary duet, designing two bite-sized creations for each cuvée. Each one was a perfectly composed mouthful that brought the wines to life in its own way.
Here is more information about each winemaker, the cuvées tasted, and the food pairings (in the order presented at the event).
Champagne Aspasie
I keep finding bubbly from this family-run estate in some of the region’s most prestigious settings. With roots stretching back to the 18th century, Champagne Aspasie is now in its fifth generation. Based in the Vallée de l’Ardre, just east of Reims, it has become a quiet ambassador for this lesser-known part of Champagne. They have 12 hectares of vines, most more than 30 years old, and work with both classic and forgotten varieties such as Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris. Certified HVE and VDC, the estate began its conversion to organic viticulture in 2019 and received certification in 2022.
Cépages d’Antan lives up to its name, meaning “grape varieties of yesteryear.” Made entirely from three rare white grapes (40% Arbanne, 40% Petit Meslier, and 20% Pinot Blanc) this vintage Champagne offers bright notes of citrus and ginger on the nose, followed by freshly cut herbs and crisp minerality on the palate. It’s lively and intriguing.
The food pairings:
- Tartelettes of French porcini & Burgundy truffles
- Pickled local beets stuffed with lobster and finger lime
Champagne Chapuy
Based in the Grand Cru village of Oger in the Côte des Blancs, Champagne Chapuy is a family estate spanning 8 hectares of vines. The Chapuy family has been making Champagne for more than a century, though the house in its current form was established in 1952. Specializing in Blanc de Blancs, even their liqueur de dosage is made from Chardonnay. The estate holds HVE3 certification (the highest level).
The Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs tasted was both complex and inviting. Aromas of citrus marmalade and toasted hazelnut led to a palate of pear, marzipan, and candied citrus peel. Rich and gourmand yet lifted by a precise freshness, it was a true expression of Oger’s elegance and depth.
The food pairings:
- Foie gras Rossini club sandwich
- Vegetal oyster with champagne pearls
The foie gras pairing was my favourite of the evening!
Champagne Vincent d’Astrée
Champagne Vincent d’Astrée represents the cooperative of Pierry, just outside Épernay, founded in 1956. Its 70 hectares of vineyards, tended by member growers across the commune and neighbouring Moussy, form a mosaic of Premier Cru terroirs planted mainly to Chardonnay and Meunier. The house has earned consistent praise in France’s beloved Guide Hachette des Vins.
For this tasting, we enjoyed their Rosé de Saignée, a blend of Meunier and Pinot Noir with a low dosage of 2 g/L. Its deep ruby hue caught the eye before revealing aromas of dark cherry and fresh mint. The palate echoed that fruit-forward intensity.
The food pairings:
- Beet mousse with hibiscus and barberry
- Bargaud duck tartelette with shiso glaze
The beet bite brought out intriguing baking spice flavours in the champagne.
Champagne Météyer
Founded in 1860, Champagne Météyer is a sixth-generation family estate located in the Marne Valley, near the border of Aisne. The vineyards lie on south-facing slopes that capture the best of the valley’s sunlight. The estate is multi-award-winning and also featured in the Guide Hachette des Vins.
We tasted the Exclusif 100% Meunier 2019, a single-plot cuvée made from the estate’s oldest vines, some over 65 years old. Crafted without dosage, it showed the variety’s full expression: aromas of fresh peach and white spring blossoms on the nose, followed by a lively palate with a clean, iodine finish that makes you salivate for more.
The food pairings:
- Tuna tartare with yuzu cream
- Saint-Jacques “cushion” with Timut pepper and butternut
I have no idea how they made the cushion, but it was SO COOL. The full scallop was inside.
Champagne Vollereaux
Founded in 1805, Champagne Vollereaux has been family-run for more than two centuries. Based in Pierry, the house owns 40 hectares of vineyards spread across the southern slopes of Épernay and into the Marne Valley. The vines span a dozen communes, planted to 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Meunier. This diversity of terroirs gives the house a broad palette from which to craft its wines.
We tasted the Blanc de Blancs 2014, a pure Chardonnay aged for nine years on its lees with a dosage of 6 g/L. The nose offered ripe stone fruits (peach, apricot, and yellow plum) lifted by citrus zest and a touch of honey. On the palate, notes of brioche and candied citrus gave richness and depth while keeping a lively, precise finish.
The food pairings:
- Celery root “risotto” with Granny Smith, finger lime, and sea asparagus
- Salsify toasted with brown butter, sprinkled with dried fruit
Champagne Trepo Leriguier
The Trépo-Leriguier family has been making Champagne for several generations in Vanault-le-Châtel, in the rolling hills of Vitry. Their vineyard, entirely Chardonnay, is now in organic conversion. Since 2008, Bertrand Trépo has chosen to harvest at night, a distinctive practice that helps preserve the grapes’ freshness and aromatics. The estate’s approach combines deep respect for its land with an inventive, independent spirit.
We tasted Songe d’une Nuit de Vendanges 2009 (romantically translated to A Midsummer Night’s Harvest), a Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut presented in a striking blue bottle. Made from the first vines ever planted by the family, it opened with aromas of kaffir lime, pear, pineapple, and a touch of frangipane. The palate felt like a cool breeze, bright and soothing. It brought me back, unexpectedly, to my travels in Indonesia.
The food pairings:
- Millefeuille of game birds, pickled vegetable frivolité
- Comté and mushroom millefeuille
Both of these pairings were absolutely perfect. They are tied for second favourite of the evening.
Domaine Alexandre Bonnet
Located in Les Riceys, in the Côte des Bar, Domaine Alexandre Bonnet is known for its elegant and expressive Champagnes that reflect the character of the southern Aube. The estate sits in one of Champagne’s most picturesque villages, famous for producing still rosé and some of the region’s most distinctive Pinot Noirs. The Bonnet family has long championed sustainable viticulture, combining traditional craftsmanship with an appreciation for the land’s natural balance.
We tasted the Rosé des Riceys La Forêt 2021, a still wine dramatically poured into carafes in front of the guests. The wine, the result of maceration, revealed a nose like a summer forest walk: wild strawberries and violet, evolving into warm baking spices with time in the glass. The palate echoed the same notes faithfully, offering both delicacy and depth. Unexpected and distinctive, it’s a rosé that can comfortably stand beside richer dishes, even game meat.
The food pairings:
- Cod “pebbles” in Champagne sauce
- Bouzy escargot pastry with seaweed butter and squash mousseline
The French name for the cod dish is a play on words. Galet de cabillaud translates to “codcakes,” but galet also means “pebble.” The chefs played with this double meaning, creating a striking trompe-l’œil that looked like smooth river stones. I personally thought this was very clever!
Champagne de Venoge
Founded in 1837, Champagne de Venoge is one of Épernay’s most historic and distinguished houses. Its iconic blue ribbon emblem, inspired by the Order of Saint Louis, and its distinctive bottle shape have become hallmarks of elegance. Based on the Avenue de Champagne in a beautifully restored 19th-century mansion, the house continues to craft exceptional wines.
During the tasting, we enjoyed the Cuvée des Princes Grand Vin des Princes Blanc de Noirs 2018. This cuvée was first created in 1864 by Joseph de Venoge in homage to the Princes of Orange. Its elegant bottle recalls the traditions of the European aristocracy in the early 20th century. They often served Champagne from crystal carafes. Made entirely from Pinot Noir, this cuvée combines Premier and Grand Cru fruit from the Montagne de Reims with select plots from Les Riceys.
We were spoiled with magnums! A seductively buttery nose was layered with strawberries dipped in white chocolate, hints of blackberry, and soft praline. The palate was creamy and rich, with fine bubbles and flavours of almond and brioche. Generous yet fresh, it was both indulgent and refined. An absolute pleasure to taste.
The food pairings:
- Chicken wings caramelised in juice, with blackberries and linseed
- Flambéed langoustines with herbs, flowers, and grains
The Finale
The evening concluded with an exceptional pièce montée. This show-stopping creation honoured both Champagne Day and the 10th anniversary of Champagne’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The delicate flower-shaped cakes of Sichuan plum and geranium were a fitting finale to a night dedicated to craftsmanship and celebration.
Overall Thoughts
The evening was a true celebration of Champagne in all its forms, from the diversity of its terroirs to the people who bring it to life. Every detail, from the setting to the pairings, reflected the pride and artistry that define this region. It was an exclusive experience and an unforgettable way to mark Champagne Day in the capital of Champagne.
For enthusiasts who want to immerse themselves in the spirit of the region, this event is a must. It captures the essence of what makes Champagne so special: heritage, innovation, and the joy of sharing a glass together.
Merci to Épernay Tourisme and Explore Grand Est for the invitation and for hosting such a beautifully curated evening.