The Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Discover the Côte des Blancs

The Côte des Blancs in a few words

The Côte des Blancs is a wine-growing slope south of Épernay, running from Cuis in the north to Vertus in the south. As the name suggests, it is planted almost entirely with Chardonnay, a white grape that finds one of its best terroirs in Champagne here, on a particularly pure chalk subsoil.

Several villages are classified Grand Cru, including Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, and Vertus is Premier Cru. Each has its own champagne houses, often small family estates that specialise in Chardonnay champagnes and Blancs de Blancs.

Besides the houses open to visitors, the Côte des Blancs has a few places to stay with a grower and some local restaurants, about a quarter of an hour from Épernay. The Pâtis d'Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger nature reserve shows the lime-loving flora of these chalky slopes, and suits a quiet walk between two cellar visits.

This guide brings together the Bubbles Guide's active listings in the villages of the Côte des Blancs. It pairs well with the Bouzy guide: Bouzy is a Grand Cru village devoted to Pinot Noir on the other side of the vineyard, and home to Champagne Arnaud Moreau and L'Iliade bed & breakfast.