Champagne, an hour or so east of Paris, is France’s most northerly wine region. Its cool, northerly climate gives light and tart wines which are perfect for making into sparkling wines. Chalk soils ensure those sparkling wines are the most elegant and bewitchingly complex in the world.

Epernay is the centre of the region although many of the great houses are situated in Reims in the north. Between the two lies the wooded plateau of the Montagne de Reims with predominantly Pinot Noir vineyards on its northern, eastern and south eastern flanks. Standing on its southern slopes, you look out over Epernay and the River Marne to the Côte des Blancs, an escarpment planted with Chardonnay which stretches away to the South. On further, much further, by Chablis is the sprawling Aube region, the secret source of many of the very best, well priced champagnes. On our list you will find growers representing all these regions as well as larger producers in both Epernay and Reims.