So when I left you guys hanging, I was on by lightning-fast e-bike (aptly called Schwarzenegger), cruising through the vineyards of the Champagne-Ardenne region. After all that exercise (cycling is cycling, e-bike or not), it was very much time for a tipple, and this we did at Au 36. This quaint designer bar and boutique is found on Rue Dom Pérignon. From all the rue’s in the region, this rue is my favorite rue of all. For all the obvious reasons.

The tasting given here came as a six glass sampler and if you ask me, a table full of champagne flutes is never a bad thing. We were also presented with a platter of assorted bites and a gigantic macaron, none of which was neglected. We took a moment to recover and then went for a stroll through the village. It was very idyllic with crooked little houses and steep streets, offering up breathtaking views over the fields and valleys.

We then jumped in the car and set off to Epernay. Here we had an appointment at Champagne Mercier house on Avenue de Champagne. So now we have my favorite rue and my avenue. Again for all the obvious reasons. Like our visit to the Taittenger house, at Mercier we were also given a guided tour of the cellars. However at Mercier they know all too well how much of an all mighty mission it is to cover everything. So instead of giving a walking tour, their tour is done on a small type of train that rides through the long corridors. Fantastic. Perhaps a little commercial, but by no means stupid.

But it doesn’t end there, because we then continued, just around the corner, to C Comme Champagne. Until now we had mainly visited the medium to large size houses. Comparatively, C Comme is one of the smaller houses. In the cellar lay hundreds of bottles and upstairs at the bar is where you can do a tasting. The menu changes every week. What’s nice about visiting places like C Comme is that you come in touch with a house that only produce 4000 bottles per year and that could otherwise be missed. That would be a shame. Before leaving we bought a bottle from the Jacques Chaput house. A little something special for my collection.

The inevitable end to this dream trip arrived. The last night was spent at Hostellerie La Briqueterie and that, too, was a highlight. The outside of the hotel is completely covered with ivy and it is simply paradise. So green, so serene, so classic. The style of the bar interior is warm, cozy and classic. It’s so inviting that you just want to spend a day curled up in one of their armchairs with a good book and never leave. We had dinner there and I need to reach deep into my bag of superlatives to tell you how stupendously delicious it was.

The next morning it was time to depart. We packed the car with with our cases of goodies and bubbles and got ready for the drive home. For those who fancy a weekend away but don’t know what to do, this is for you. For sure. Pop!