HALF-DAY IN ÉPERNAY

Pop the bubbly people— we’re in Champagne heaven here!

Épernay is the Champagne capital of the world. Why? Well every single aspect of your favorite fancy-drink has to be produced in the Champagne region of France or it can’t have the word Champagne on the label. (So I guess this means that André I was heavy sippin-on in college wasn’t as classy as I thought?? Who knew!!)

Épernay makes a great day-trip from Paris! It’s only about two hours by car but it feels like a whole new world. It’s perfect for a day of relaxation If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Paris.

When my mom and I were there, we woke up, had breakfast at our hotel, and went on our way to explore the town. The streets are lined with Champagne houses, one after the next. Each of them a gated chateau that looks like it could’ve been copy and pasted straight out of a storybook. But if you want to see the most interesting part? You’ll have to go under them.

The tour I took and highly recommend? Moët and Chandon. They are one of the biggest and oldest players of Champagne, and it showed. For just 25 euros you can be taken through the depths of the underground Champagne city. There are endless tunnels of Champagne lined walls, and it is quite impressive. In fact, I was told that there is enough Champagne under Épernay that you could give four bottles to every person in France— pretty crazy, huh! Your tour guide will walk you through each step of the laborious Champagne making process, and you are treated to a glass of their famous bubbly at the end of the tour. It is truly worth every penny.

After that feel free to just walk down the main street and pop in and out of Champagne houses to try some other Champagnes along the street. They almost all take walk-ins or have some type of bar to try them out!

Unfortunately that’s all the time my mom and I had, but I plan to be return when I can. I heard there’s a hot air balloon that you can take up to see over the vineyards— so count me in for another trip ASAP!