Visit to Troyes and the Champagne Fleury

We love the Champagne region which is famous for its vineyards and the finest champagne and visit it often on our travels through Europe. We have previously visited other Champagne vineyards in the northern area of the Champagne around Reims and had visited Champagne Houses in Eperney our favourite being Duval Leroy. This was our first visit to Troyes and we did so because we wanted to visit Champagne Fleury Vineyard who’s champagne we tasted for the first time on Christmas Day 2022. It was so lovely that we felt we needed to know more about this organic brand. After reading up about the Fleury champagne and their organic growing methods, ethos and philosophy we decided we wanted to visit the vineyard. 

So off to Troyes we set, it is the ancient capital of the Champagne-Ardennes region famous for its vineyards and the finest Champagne and it lies in the heart of the Aube department in north-central France.

Mediaeval and beautiful Troyes is the capital city of the Champagne-Ardennes region in north eastern France and sits on the River Seine. Unbelievably Troyes didn’t suffer the devastating bombardments of the last two world wars and hence has a high density of very old buildings. Many of whom date back to the Middle Ages. The charming historic city centre of Troyes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site  and you do truly feel you have stepped back in time as you make your way through the city centre’s cobbled, narrow streets winding between colourful half timbered houses, markets and grandiose churches. The religious buildings are decorated with the most beautiful painted stained windows.

Troyes has an astonishing collection of painted stained glass windows, the oldest some 850 years old. In fact Troyes and the Aube region boast of having the largest and most stunning collection of painted stained glass windows in the whole of Europe. No wonder Troyes has been labeled The Stained Glass City. Troyes and its surrounding area are incredibly rich in history and culture which can be experienced in one of the city’s many museums or by walking through the charming and quirky town and just take it all in. But what truly brings Troyes to life are the market days and its many delightful cafes and boulangeries. Who can argue how lovely it is sitting outside a cafe enjoying coffee or a cheeky glass of champagne and some local goodies such as the brioche au chaource and watching the world go by? Yes, Julie's most favourite pastime, people watching, good company and champagne.

Ahh Champagne, the beginning and main reason for this sublime trip. It has to be said that Champagne Fleury is the most wonderful and smoothest champagne we have ever tasted. 

The Fleury family have grown and made their wine in the hillsides of southern Champagne in the Cote des Bar region for four generations. Each generation adding their own flair to the journey of winemaking and caring for the land which then lead them to become the first organic winemakers in Europe. 

We were absolutely fascinated by how the Fleury family love land and nature and it is fascinating how they twine together their knowledge of geology, agriculture, ethics, philosophy, astrology and history to better represent their terroir in this ever changing climate we know life in. They do see themselves as “Children of the earth with the passion for the world and the desire to go further"

“The constellations of the zodiac stimulate different parts

of the plants through four primordial

elements of nature”

Their conviction that they each play a modest but essential role in providing harmony and unity through their interaction with the environment really does provide an authentic, welcoming and warm atmosphere and let’s not forget, excellent champagne.

The organic farming practices are better for our environment than the more conventional methods as there are no residual products, pesticides, insecticides also while consuming organic products you’re not polluting your body either. When wine is made in this manner and using indigenous yeast and very little additions, you end up drinking something that is a much truer representation of where it’s from. We are totally and utterly sold and once you go organic you don’t go back. You simply must give it a try. 

Cheers,

Julie and Wayne xx