If you are walking around Épernay and looking for somewhere to stop for Champagne, Besserat de Bellefon is a place worth knowing.
The Champagne House has been part of the region’s story since 1843, when it was founded in Aÿ. Today, Besserat de Bellefon is based in Épernay, where the Maison has created something that makes visiting particularly easy: you can come for a tasting, stay for a glass, browse the boutique, enjoy a few snacks and even spend the night.
A Champagne House founded in 1843
Besserat de Bellefon was founded in 1843 in Aÿ, one of Champagne’s historic villages. The House eventually moved to Épernay, where it continues its Champagne-making tradition almost two centuries later. Its history has always been closely connected with the French art de vivre, gastronomy and hospitality.
One of the most important moments in the Maison’s history came in 1930. Victor Besserat wanted to create a Champagne that was light enough to accompany an entire meal rather than being reserved only for the aperitif. The result was Cuvée des Moines, which became one of the House’s signature wines.
The Maison developed a distinctive winemaking approach that produces a particularly fine, delicate effervescence. Besserat de Bellefon describes its bubbles as around 30% finer than those of a traditional Champagne, with the aim of preserving freshness and the expression of the fruit.
Cuvée des Moines remains at the heart of the House today, with the range including Brut, Rosé and Extra Brut expressions as well as vintage versions.
A Champagne made for the table
That connection with gastronomy is still very much part of Besserat de Bellefon’s identity.
The House’s Champagne is designed to work with food rather than simply being served as an aperitif. This is one reason the Cuvée des Moines style can be particularly interesting at the table, where its freshness and fine bubbles can accompany everything from seafood and lighter dishes to richer foods.
The current range goes well beyond Cuvée des Moines, with several collections including the Simplicité, Élégance, Liberté and Prestige lines, as well as the Réserve Collection and vintage Champagnes.
For Champagne lovers, this makes Besserat de Bellefon a fun House to explore because you can try very different expressions rather than stopping with one bottle.
How we discovered Besserat de Bellefon
Our connection with Besserat de Bellefon actually started in Tallinn, long before we visited the Maison in Épernay.
We first discovered the Champagne at one of our favourite restaurants in Tallinn, Dominic, when we ordered a bottle of Besserat de Bellefon 2008 vintage. We loved it immediately. Naturally, we wanted to find out more about the House and, more importantly, who was importing it to Estonia.
That curiosity eventually led us to the local importer, and not long afterwards, Besserat de Bellefon became the focus of a Champagne dinner in Tallinn. It was there that we met Julien Martin, Besserat de Bellefon’s export manager.
As it happens with Champagne, one meeting quickly leads to another. Just a few days after the dinner in Tallinn, we met Julien again in Helsinki at the Grand Champagne Festival, one of the annual events we always look forward to in the Champagne world.
Our connection with the House continued from there. One September, we joined a Champagne trip organised by the Estonian importer, which included a visit to Besserat de Bellefon and a wonderful private dinner at the Maison itself.
By then, Besserat de Bellefon was no longer simply a Champagne House we had discovered through a bottle. We had met some of the people behind it, tasted the wines in different settings and eventually experienced the Maison itself.
And perhaps that is also why Besserat de Bellefon has become one of those Champagnes we can confidently turn to again and again.
It works for a quiet evening at home, a dinner with friends, a special celebration or as a gift for someone who enjoys good Champagne. It has that lovely combination of elegance and approachability – a Champagne that feels special without being difficult to enjoy.
The new Besserat de Bellefon Maison in Épernay
The biggest reason to put Besserat de Bellefon on your Épernay list today, however, is its beautifully renovated Maison.
In 2024, Besserat de Bellefon moved its headquarters into an 18th-century hôtel particulier in the heart of Épernay and opened La Sensation BB, a Champagne bar, terrace and boutique. In 2025, the Maison added three suites to the building.
And this is where Besserat de Bellefon becomes particularly appealing for visitors.
You don’t necessarily need to plan a big Champagne tasting or a full day around a Champagne House visit. You can simply walk in.
A perfect place to escape the summer heat
There is another reason we particularly like the idea of this new Maison.
Épernay can get seriously hot during summer heatwaves, and walking around the Avenue de Champagne in full sun isn’t always the most pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Besserat de Bellefon makes a very good refuge.
Step inside, find a comfortable spot, order a chilled glass of Champagne and take a break from the heat. You can stay for twenty minutes or settle in for much longer. The terrace gives you another option when you want to sit outside, while the elegant interior provides a welcome escape when temperatures climb.
Champagne, snacks and a little shopping
La Sensation BB isn’t only about drinking Champagne.
The bar offers tasting experiences paired with food, including cheese, foie gras, Pata Negra, tarama and caviar depending on the experience you choose. There are also more casual options for visitors who simply want to enjoy Champagne without booking a longer tasting.
Then there is the boutique.
You can buy Besserat de Bellefon Champagnes to take home, including the Cuvée des Moines and Réserve Collection, as well as items connected with tasting and gastronomy.
This makes it a particularly easy place to pick up a bottle for later – or a Champagne-related gift that is a little more interesting than something you could find in a supermarket.
And yes, you can stay here
The Maison’s three suites opened in 2025, turning Besserat de Bellefon into a place where you can actually spend the night.
The suites are located inside the 18th-century building and range from the 41 m² Brigitte Bardot Suite to the 54 m² French Touch Suite. They all include kitchenettes, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and breakfast, with some accommodating up to four guests.
The Victor Suite is particularly fitting for Champagne lovers, as it pays tribute to Victor Besserat, the man behind the original Cuvée des Moines created in 1930.
Staying here means the Champagne experience doesn’t have to end when the tasting does.
Why we would stop here
There are plenty of Champagne Houses in Épernay where you can book a tour and taste the wines.
Besserat de Bellefon offers something slightly different. It gives you a place to linger.
For us, that feeling is also connected to our own history with the House. What started with a bottle of 2008 Besserat de Bellefon in our favourite restaurant in Tallinn eventually led to Champagne dinners, meetings in Tallinn and Helsinki, and finally to a private dinner at the Maison itself.
So if you’re walking along the Avenue de Champagne and looking for somewhere to stop, we would absolutely put Besserat de Bellefon on the list.
You can walk in for one glass. Stay for snacks. Try a Champagne you haven’t tasted before. Browse the shop. Sit on the terrace. Escape the heat. Book a proper tasting. Or stay overnight and make the Maison part of your Épernay trip.
Sometimes you just need a cool room, a comfortable chair and a glass of Champagne.
And Besserat de Bellefon gives you all three.
Besserat de Bellefon Champagne House visit FAQ
Yes. Besserat de Bellefon welcomes visitors at La Sensation BB, its Champagne bar, boutique and tasting space in the centre of Épernay. Visitors can choose between several tasting experiences, ranging from vintage Champagne tastings to food and Champagne pairings.
Besserat de Bellefon currently focuses its visitor experiences on tastings at its new Maison in Épernay rather than traditional cellar tours. The Experience Prestige does include a short tour of the Maison before the tasting, but the tasting experiences are primarily designed around discovering the Champagnes in the Maison itself.
Tasting experiences can be booked directly through the Besserat de Bellefon website. The Maison also accepts table reservations for its Champagne bar, La Sensation BB. Booking in advance is the easiest option if you want to try one of the structured tasting experiences.
The tasting experiences currently listed by Besserat de Bellefon range from €65 to €270 per person, depending on the experience. Options include vintage tastings, Champagne and food pairings, and a more exclusive tasting of historic vintages.
There are several options. The Cuvées Millésime tasting focuses on the 2008 and 2013 vintages, while the Trilogie includes three Champagnes with tarama. More exclusive experiences include historic vintages, vintage Cuvée des Moines paired with cheeses, and Champagne served with foie gras, Pata Negra or caviar.
Yes. La Sensation BB is also a Champagne bar and boutique, so you can stop by to enjoy Champagne by the glass or bottle without necessarily booking one of the longer tasting experiences. The Maison also has a terrace where you can sit and enjoy Champagne.
La Sensation BB is located at 5 Rue Jean Chandon-Moët, 51200 Épernay, in the centre of the city. This is the Maison’s Champagne bar, terrace, boutique and visitor space.
Yes. Besserat de Bellefon has three suites within its Épernay Maison, allowing visitors to combine a Champagne tasting with an overnight stay. The suites opened as part of the Maison’s expansion in 2025.