France · FR

Vine Garden

The Vine Garden (Jardin de Vignes) sits at the western edge of Chouilly, on Rue des Partelaines, almost exactly where Épernay's glittering Avenue de Champagne slips out of the town and into the vines. Created in 2009 and run by the Épernay Agglo Champagne authority, it is the founding site of a loose network of open-air vine gardens that together act as a free, walk-through introduction to the Champagne terroir. The garden is at once a vineyard, a classroom and a photogenic stroll. Real vines are trained here in the shapes and pruning methods allowed in Champagne, set alongside interpretive panels cut like giant vine leaves, a miniature re-creation of a Champagne vineyard planted with the appellation's three grape varieties, a huge map of France's wine regions and an outdoor exhibition of oversized photographs on wooden palisades. There's a quiz on every panel for kids, and admission is free, all year, day or night.