Picture an historic French château surrounded by a belt of green vineyards. This scenic image is the Château de Bligny estate. Nestled in the heart of the Côte des Bar, Marquis de Dampierre built the property in 1773 on the foundations of a feudal castle. Nowadays it is owned by the Rapeneau family who have revamped the vineyards and renovated the château to its former glory.

All winemaking stages are done at the estate – from growing, to fermenting, to ageing. This makes it the only house in Champagne to benefit from the title of château. Crafted from equal portions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, bottle-fermented and lees-aged for toasty richness, it’s a perfect celebration fizz or a luxurious treat. Chill down well and enjoy!

The Rapeneau family has been producing Champagne for over a century and oversee the production of the Louis Dumont label.

Now 4th generation, they are committed to high quality through understanding the nuances of the various subregions.

With five main grape growing areas in Champagne, careful selection of the grapes is a major influence on the style of the fizz.

Louis Dumont is a delicious, fruit-forward bubbly, ready to be enjoyed. It’s crafted from grapes from Vallée de la Marne – known for its fruity Pinot Meunier and peachy Chardonnay – and Côtes des Bars, with its reputation for full-flavoured, ripe Pinot Noir.

It’s a Pinot-dominated blend, brimming with red fruit flavour, refreshing citrus, and classic brioche notes. Chill and enjoy.

Paul Goerg is a leading independent Champagne house, as this Premier Cru testifies. Owned by eight grower families, it was voted by Le Guide Hachette as the top Champagne out of 100 tasted – above vintage Veuve Clicquot and equal to Krug. Goerg is named after a respected 19th century mayor of Vertus, located in the famous Côte des Blancs. Here, Chardonnay is king and an impressive 85% of it is classified as Premier Cru.

The elegance, finesse and purity of this variety is the hallmark of the Goerg style, enriched here with 40-50% reserve wine. The chalky soils of Vertus lend a rich, yet refreshingly mineral quality, while three years’ ageing adds considerably to the wine’s complexity. Superb for celebrations and lovely with oysters.

There has been a phenomenal rise in the number of artisan Champagne makers in recent decades as more grape growers have risen to the challenge of crafting their own wines. And, as The Independent wrote, “Champagnes made by local growers are not just affordable, but in many instances superior to the better known big brands”. Didier and Karine Chopin are based in the Marne Valley. They bottled their first Champagne in 1989, made from grapes grown on Karine’s family’s estate. Today they have their own property.

This Brut rosé is made from the two black grapes of Champagne, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Six years on, lees have lent it considerable richness and complexity. Chilled it's as excellent with seafood and canapés as it is on its own.