France Photo Diary: Champagne, Troyes and More

scenes from my experience in the champagne region.

Shot on location at Chateau De Sacy in Champagne, France.

Photography, Osmany Tavares/Igee Okafor

Styling, Igee Okafor

scenes from my experience in the champagne region.

If there are any travel movements I have noticed recently, it’s that now more than ever, more people are making it a point to take the journey for the sole purpose of satisfying their curiosities - to learn, and to shift perspective.

In the name of following suit, I took a trip to the Champagne region in France to enlighten myself on the business of winemaking - all courtesy of my kind friends at Comité Champagne. For five days, we toured the district meeting with various winegrowers and champagne brands learning the ins and outs of what makes the product so high quality.

What’s it like to go on a trip like this one? Keep scrolling for a brief gallery of documented outtakes.

I love French decor, and I couldn’t help but photograph this table setting here on the first day of the trip at our hotel, Champagne De Sacy.

Never visit Champagne, France without stopping by Attis Restaurant. Minimalistic decor with the most spectacular glass view of the vineyards. The dishes are very well thought out too. An overall champagne essential.

This was one of my iphone outtakes from the last day of the trip - taken on an early morning walk.

Tasting at @champagnedrappier - a family owned business with a signature stand of no preservatives/ sulphites or added sugar. Their movement started with the production of dry champagne. Clean and ripe, Pinot Noir style. They also create the largest… — Tasting at @champagnedrappier - a family owned business with a signature stand of no preservatives/ sulphites or added sugar. Their movement started with the production of dry champagne. Clean and ripe, Pinot Noir style. They also create the largest champagne bottle in the world.

Touring Troyes, France on a lovely afternoon.

Madame Clicquot (@veuveclicquot) built this castle for her daughter to get married in back in 1840. Still standing years later.

At the Champagne Jacques Lassaigne house for Day III of the tour and I must say, meeting Mr. Emmanuel Lassaigne was so refreshing. Very straightforward, funny, and stylish. Also a big fan of music which I hold dear to me. At the Champagne Jacques La… — At the Champagne Jacques Lassaigne house for Day III of the tour and I must say, meeting Mr. Emmanuel Lassaigne was so refreshing. Very straightforward, funny, and stylish. Also a big fan of music which I hold dear to me.
At the Champagne Jacques Lassaigne house, everything is done naturally. The brand was founded on no studies of champagne. Emmanuel’s father started to make wine as a test in the 70s and currently, with three to five months of fermentation and barrel aging, they pride themselves in making five cuvées every year.

For the last night of the trip, we were invited to join some of the most influential personalities in the champagne industry at Palais du Tau for an awards gala. Wearing a @calvinklein tuxedo and shoes, @gucci bow tie, and my @carlfbucherer #ManeroP… — For the last night of the trip, we were invited to join some of the most influential personalities in the champagne industry at Palais du Tau for an awards gala. Wearing a @calvinklein tuxedo and shoes, @gucci bow tie, and my @carlfbucherer #ManeroPeripheral. Super honored and humbled to have been a part of such a prestigious event. Also, made for a wonderful way to end such a dreamlike week crossing paths with some of the most diverse people I have ever met.

Visiting the house of 40 year old champagne brand, @nicolasfeuillatte. Nicolas Feuillatte doesn’t have a vineyard. They go to winegrowers to aid their production and they do a very fine job of tributing them - they’re one of the few houses I’ve seen plaster images of their growers on their factory walls detailing who each person is and what they do. The brand bottles about 30,000 bottles an hour which I find pretty impressive in addition to the layout of their workspace - very modern and well cemented with high ceilings.

The brand seems to be no stranger to visual aesthetic either since I fell in love with the design of their vintage 2006 Palmes D’or bottle. Exotic taste as well, 50% Chardonnay, and 50% Pinot Noir.

For Day II, we engaged in a champagne presentation informing us on the business of the product in France. We also visited two champagne houses. Pictured above is the scene from one of those visits. Particularly, our meeting with Mrs. Charlotte Le Ga… — For Day II, we engaged in a champagne presentation informing us on the business of the product in France. We also visited two champagne houses. Pictured above is the scene from one of those visits. Particularly, our meeting with Mrs. Charlotte Le Gallais from @legallais_champagne who runs the brand with her father. In addition to touring the cellar and land where they harvest, we discussed topics ranging from fermentation, to blending, to the extraction of yeast. Another highlight was getting to taste their 2014 vintage champagne. They only did 900 bottles of this and ingredients include oak, and Chardonnay to reveal a more buttery, pastry, and less winey finish.

Photographed by, @osmanyy on the scene at #PalaisDuTau in Reims, France with the @champagne_officiel team. #mychampagne

We visited naturally elegant brand, @champagnepalmer. With them, I got to saber my first bottle ever - their Brut Reserve. It was my first time sabering and in a nutshell, the technique highlights socking the bottle where the two halves come together and meet the ring around the cork. Ultimately, the goal is separating the top from the body for the champagne to be able to flow and the technique is typically done for high class celebrations. Was my saberage successful? I’d like to think it was a good first try.

@lacourtegodbillon was one of the champagne houses we visited on our fourth day. With a 3 generation business and 35 year average plot they grow their grapes in, the champagne house of 5 is focused on being environmentally conscious. This is importa… — @lacourtegodbillon was one of the champagne houses we visited on our fourth day. With a 3 generation business and 35 year average plot they grow their grapes in, the champagne house of 5 is focused on being environmentally conscious. This is important to them for the state of the world, and their future generations. Their business is made up of 85% Pinot noir and 15% Chardonnay.

We were able to tour the @champagnepommery house and my, what a lavish experience it was. First off, our tour guide who went by the name of Charlotte was really lovely. Always so inspirational to meet people who are passionate about their jobs. On t… — We were able to tour the @champagnepommery house and my, what a lavish experience it was.
First off, our tour guide who went by the name of Charlotte was really lovely. Always so inspirational to meet people who are passionate about their jobs. On the other hand, she taught us about the Champagne house - its history with its founder, its appreciation for modern artists like Pablo Valbuena, and the inner workings of how things work in their production with winemakers and beyond. We were also able to taste some champagne like the Vintage 2002 Apanage - a blend of their different vintage makings. We ended with a very delicious dinner and conversations that extended itself through French, and American culture. It was a memorable first night to say the least.

Touring the @lacourtegodbillon vineyard.

@chateaudesacyreims was home for the majority of our trip and it couldn’t have been more fantastic. Memories of gorgeous artwork, the most delicious breakfast, and of course, the landscape it’s surrounded by.