De Castellane, Historic winery in Épernay, France.
De Castellane is a champagne house on the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, marked by a tall tower rising about 66 meters (217 feet) above the surrounding rooftops. Below the property, a network of cellar tunnels dug into the chalk serves as the aging and production space.
The house was founded in 1895 by Viscount Florens de Castellane, at a time when Épernay was growing into the center of champagne production in France. It later joined the Laurent-Perrier group while keeping its name and original production methods.
The labels carry the Cross of Saint Andrew, the symbol of the oldest regiment of Champagne, linking the wine directly to the military past of the region. This emblem has been part of the house's visual identity since its founding.
The house is easy to reach on foot from the center of Épernay, as it sits along the main avenue lined with other champagne houses. Sturdy, flat shoes are a good idea for the cellar visit, since the tunnel floors are uneven and the tour covers several levels underground.
The house keeps a collection of old winemaking tools alongside records of production problems from past centuries, showing how champagne making changed over time. Some of these objects document specific failures that led winemakers to change their methods in lasting ways.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
