we came here after visiting the exceptional and notorious Vilmart…read more everyone knows that Vilmart makes A-one champagnes, but Paques et Fils is also worth a visit if you are in Rilly-la-Montagne we were greeted by the owner and winemaker, who personally guided us through several champagnes the champagnes are excellent quality and very reasonably priced - we bought several bottles and are looking forward to sharing them with our friends in Paris

Having made a list of independent champagne producers before we left we were touring around the…read morevillages between Reims and Epernay. The criteria included - was it open on a Tuesday, did you need to do a tour or just go and taste and buy if you liked it, did it seem welcoming We drove here from Dizy and took the back roads not the main road...wow what views; and there is some high class Spa up there in the hills, 600+€ pn, ouch Fagot's was a great little place - open, yes; welcoming, yes; tour only if you wanted to, yes...and a little more Well we started the tasting and as I was driving I just had a sip, literally (boo hoo)...my partner tried 4 and I was allowed to taste the 2 she thought I'd like; I liked 1 but not the other...so they went and brought out another bottle from a cupboard, a "Reserve" at 1€ more..."then you might like this"...oh did I just...so that was a yes then; a case from 3 different bottles And we bought some decent stoppers and a sleeve...oh, what a good choice and no snootiness as with some of the fancy places; just nice people promoting and selling their produce...no brainer Will update when I finally get a chance to drink the stuff properly back in England, hopefully with some decent summer sun!