Côte des Bar and champagne

Morning light skims across Essoyes, catching slate roofs and a chalky scent in the air tinged with ripe apple. This is the Côte des Bar, where Pinot Noir has long ruled slopes of Kimmeridgian marl, decades before the area joined the Champagne AOC in 1927. Between Les Riceys and Celles‑sur‑Ource, the Seine and the Ource trace gentle valleys past old clos and thoughtful growers—think Drappier in Urville (1808) or Alexandre Bonnet in Les Riceys. From Troyes, plan on 45–60 minutes depending on the village.

Collected from your hotel in Troyes, you travel in a Mercedes with a dedicated driver handling curvy backroads, precise appointment times, and photo stops while you taste. The day lines up two cellar visits (one in Urville), a deep dive in Les Riceys to understand its rare Rosé des Riceys AOC, and a rustic lunch in Essoyes or Bar‑sur‑Seine. The vehicle stays at your disposal—detour to the Montgueux viewpoint if skies are clear, or swing by Essoyes for the Renoir heritage stop, as mood and timing allow.