Le Parc at Domaine Les Crayères

To appreciate the heightened level of refinement you’ll experience at Le Parc, it’s necessary to understand its location – at Domaine Les Crayères. This 19th-century castle, also a member of Relais & Châteaux, is located in the heart of Reims. It’s a sprawling luxurious property, regarded as a hallmark of French classicism, where you can rest your head in a decadently decorated room or sip and dine your way through what is arguably the most elegant restaurant in the Champagne region. With two Michelin stars, Le Parc offers the most extensive list of champagne and French wines in the region. So large are the lists that they are divided into ‘tomes’, boasting 57 pages and 101 pages respectively.

The wine program focuses on vintage Champagnes, that are ready to drink and not too young, to complement the gastronomic nature of the restaurant overseen by Executive Chef, Philippe Mille. There are more than 1,000 references of Champagne and 2,500 different wines from all over France, albeit mostly from Burgundy and Bordeaux. Champagnes are divided according to style and Maison, Cooperative, then by growing region and Vigneron. The availability of mature wines at the restaurant is the child of the Domaine’s impressive cellaring program which invests heavily in young wines from all years before aging in their bunker.

For Champagne lovers, the restaurant offers a special pairing menu, with modern and innovative French-themed cuisine, highlighting Champagne’s complexity as a wine crafted for food.

If all of this seems too overwhelming, take a small walk from the back of the property across manicured gardens, for a casual alternative. Les Crayères’ bistro-style Le Jardin has a good wine list, though not as extensive as Le Parc, with 500 references and an increasing number of grower champagnes. By comparison, the focus is on younger wines to offer a better value-for-money proposition.

Either way, Les Crayères is probably the best place to experience your first glass of Champagne when you arrive.