The Cossy estate is based in the 1er Cru village of Jouy-lès-Reims – just a few minutes outside of the center of Reims, and dates to 1764. They started bottling under their own label in the 1950s, in addition to managing the Cooperative winemaking facility for their village and the neighboring hamlet of Pargny-lèsReims.
Sophie’s wines all clearly have a graceful, feminine touch. They are all from her estate vineyards within a kilometer or two of the winery, so they’re all from essentially the same terroir.
The House of Ruinart is unlike any other. It was the first established House of Champagne in 1729 and inspired by the intuition of a monk well ahead of his time.
Chardonnay is the very soul of Ruinart. The grape, mainly harvested from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs, is at the heart of all our cuvées.
A unique part of our visit included a tour of the crayères, or chalk galleries, classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2015. It’s hard to describe the feeling when you know you are 125 feet down into the earth with the silent chalk surrounding you.
Vaulted ceilings and large galleries, the crayèresalmost remind you of being in a cathedral where you really should be quiet. The only other souls we saw were rows upon rows of bottles. Probably millions. Not a bad sight.
The cool, dark crayeres are lit by spot lights in a few places. Other times, light comes in from a hole far above you.
Centuries of graffiti are carved into the walls, bearing names, doodles, and even tiny altars with crosses.
The blend for Blanc de Blancs
The blend is 100% Chardonnay from various years (20 to 25% of which arereserve wines from the 2 previous years).
A large majority of Premiers Crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims vineyards for aromatic refinement, supplemented by Sézannais wines known to provide maturity. Finally, several wines from the north of the Vesle valley give a light, fresh touch.
Home to the great wine production and trading houses, and listed as a Remarkable Site of Taste, the majestic Avenue de Champagne has 110 kilometres of cellars.
The first Champagne House opened in Epernay in 1729, founded by Nicolas Ruinart, a draper at the time, who wanted to try his hand at producing sparkling wine.
Other establishments would also set up on Avenue de Champagne (in particular Moët & Chandon, in 1743). The Avenue de Champagne, previously known as Rue du Commerce, became an important economic hub in the 19th century and other Champagne Houses followed: Perrier Jouët, de Venoge, Mercier, etc.
In February 1925, the Rue du Commerce became the Avenue de Champagne.
Housed in an elegant 17th-century residence in the heart of Colmar’s Little Venice, Jean-Yves Schillinger’s canal-side restaurant impresses with its style and substance. This Michelin two-star restaurant delighted us throughout every course.
As for the food, Schillinger’s style marries whimsy with technical brilliance. Every course was a delight, first for our eyes and lastly in our bellies.
Our amuse bouche was an array of stuffed olives presented on a olive wood tray with an olive branch hanging over it. Yummy and pretty.
The soup course was almost too pretty to eat. Tomato broth, olive oil, and vegetables and edible flowers…melt in my mouth.
What appears to be an egg in an egg shell was not. The bite of creamy custard was the perfect palette cleanser.
As a complimentary dessert tray, these bites disappeared quickly.
This experience was our highlight of the day. Be sure to check out JY’s if you are in or near Colmar. By the way…reserve ahead and arrive hungry.
Our trip took us to Colmar, a town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany.
Spices at the market in Colmar.
Like most towns, Colmar has a Saturday market. This one is indoors, in a building designed by architect Louis-Michel Blotz in 1865. Local products, fruits, vegetables, meats, and more are only part of the attraction. Located inside and spilling outside to the Lauch River is a bar and terrace.
Shop for your produce and stop for a drink. Coffee, wine, or both…
The market building is located at 13 rue des Ecoles, in Colmar.
This church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and acclaimed as a Gothic masterpiece for its sculptural decoration and architecture.
Parts of the building are much older than the gothic period, as the romanesque nave and transepts are from the 1000s.
Later gothic additions like the choir ambulatory and facade are masterful in the way they help form a unified whole.
The historic relics of Reims’ patron saint are inside: Saint-Remi was the bishop noted for baptising Clovis the King of Franks around the turn of the 6th century.
At the site of 900 years-worth of royal coronations, it’s almost mind-blowing to think of all the historical figures that have passed through.
Before you enter see if you can find the Smiling Angel in the north portal of the west facade.
It’s a 13th century sculpture with its own story to tell, as it was beheaded during the German bombing in 1914 and the fragments became a famous piece of anti-German propaganda within France.
The Smiling Angel is one of a small army of sculpted figures on the facade, more than any other cathedral in Europe apart from Chartres.
And finally for art lovers, in the apse you can find stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall to replace those damaged in the war.
Combine the quality of its architecture with the quality of its world-famous wines and you will understand the nickname ‘The Gem of the Alsace Vineyards.’
Situated between the peaks of the Vosges mountains and the Plain of Alsace, Riquewihr is a medieval town in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. It is also classified among the Most Beautiful Villages in France.
