The Champagne wine village of Ay (51 Marne, Grand Est) holds an bi-annual celebration of its wines with its King Henri IV Festival in July (2 – 3 July 2022),and the next then in 2024.
Every other year for more than 20 years the good people of Ay hand over the keys to their village to “their good King Henri IV.” The King owned a wine press and was a fan of the wines of Ay! His doctor advised him to drink Champagne, as the wines were lighter than those of Burgundy.
Pendant les fêtes Henri IV, partout dans Aÿ, des surprises à découvrir, des spécialités à déguster, une ambiance à saisir au cours d’un week-end de joie et de détente dans la grande tradition champenoise. He did of course only drink Champagne for medicinal purposes!
Ay is the home of Champagne Bollinger! Sample the wine and food at the many Champagne houses which will be open on these two festival days.On Saturday evening see the grand firework display with musical accompaniment. On Sunday afternoon the Ay carnival processes through the streets.
For more info see www.fetes-henri4-ay.fr/
- Stay at the Champagne Hotel Castel Jeanson in Ay– in a prime position between the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims and the Côtes des Blancs.
- Stay at Champagne Collery B&B in Ay
- See Avenue de Champagne in nearby Epernay
- most popular places to stay in Champagne
See more about this and other wine villages at frenchvineyard.co.uk
see our Top 30 vineyard B&Bs in France
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