Tourism
Épernay emerges as a culinary destination favoured by Champagne's own winemakers
Wine Enthusiast has published a travel guide positioning Épernay as a compelling food and drink destination, one quietly championed by the winemakers who know the Champagne region best.
What happened
Wine Enthusiast has published a travel guide devoted to Épernay, presenting the Champagne town as a culinary destination of genuine distinction. The guide draws attention to the city's eclectic food and drink scene and notes that winemakers working across the Champagne region count Épernay among their favoured places to eat and drink. The piece positions the town not merely as a gateway to the famous cellars that line its avenues, but as a destination worthy of attention in its own right.
Why it matters
Épernay sits at the heart of the Champagne region, yet it has long operated in the shadow of Reims, its larger and more widely visited neighbour. The Wine Enthusiast guide acknowledges this directly, noting that Épernay is the quieter of the two cities. That quietude, it seems, is precisely part of the appeal. When the people who make Champagne — those with the most intimate knowledge of the region's rhythms and resources — choose a place to eat and drink, that endorsement carries a particular weight. For travellers and industry professionals alike, such a signal is worth heeding. Coverage of this kind has the potential to shift how visitors plan their time in Champagne, encouraging a slower, more considered engagement with the region's hospitality rather than a swift tour of the grands boulevards.
Context
Épernay is located in the Marne département of north-eastern France and is widely regarded as the commercial capital of the Champagne appellation. The Avenue de Champagne, which runs through the town, is home to some of the most recognised addresses in the sparkling wine world. Yet beyond that celebrated thoroughfare, the city sustains a food and drink culture that, according to the Wine Enthusiast guide, is notably eclectic. The publication's decision to frame Épernay through a culinary lens — rather than solely through the prism of its cellars and caves — reflects a broader appetite among wine travellers for immersive, place-led experiences. For those planning a visit to Champagne, Épernay now presents itself as a destination that rewards time spent above ground as much as below it.