On Friday 16 October 2026, Clairvaux Abbey will open its doors for a truly exceptional evening. The programme includes a masterclass on Rosé des Riceys, a tour of Clairvaux and a four-handed dinner featuring food and champagne pairings.
One evening, two chefs, some winemakers and a grand dinner laid out in one of the most iconic venues in the Aube region of Champagne.
An evening to experience Champagne in a different way
Forget the traditional dinner. Here, the experience begins long before you sit down to eat.
From 6.00 pm, come and discover a rarity from the Aube vineyards: the Rosé des Riceys. Philippe Jamesse, former sommelier at Les Crayères in Reims, will lead a tasting session exploring the different expressions of this appellation, produced exclusively on the Riceys terroir. Five estates will be taking part in this masterclass: Morize Père et Fils, Devaux, Pascal Walczak, Alexandre Bonnet and Jacques Defrance.
The evening will continue with a tour of Clairvaux Abbey, which bears witness to nine centuries of history, having served first as a monastery and later as a prison.
Let’s sit down to eat!
At 8.30 pm, it’s time for the banquet! Chefs Thomas Valleron (formerly of La Montagne* in Colombey-les-deux-Eglises) and Joël Césari (formerly of La Chaumière* in Dôle) will be creating a four-handed dinner especially for the occasion, served with five champagne pairings.
Seated around the table, the winemakers will also be there to present their wines, talk about their terroirs and share their vision of Champagne:
- Champagne Drappier, à Urville
- Champagne Monial, à Colombé-le-Sec
- Champagne René Jolly, à Landreville
- Champagne Lionel Carreau, à Celles-sur-Ource
- Champagne Richard-Fliniaux, à Aÿ-Champagne
The journalist and wine taster Bernard Burtschy will also be joining the guests throughout the dinner and will be sharing his insights on the wines and the suggested pairings.
Dinner in Clairvaux it’s not something that happens every day
That is also what makes this evening so special. For a few hours, Clairvaux becomes the meeting point between heritage and gastronomy. A rare opportunity to discover this major site in the Aube department in a different light and to share a meal with those who keep the Champagne region alive today.
Only 150 guests will be able to attend the banquet. So, shall we keep a place for you?
Practical information
Friday 16 October 2026
From 6.00 pm
Clairvaux Abbey – Ville-sous-la-Ferté
Rosé des Riceys masterclass + tour of Clairvaux + banquet with food and champagne pairings
€150 per person – booking required
The Clairvaux Unusual Banquet is being held as part of ‘Vignobles en Scène’, the major national wine tourism event organised from 16 to 18 October 2026 by the ‘Vignobles & Découvertes’ scheme.
Fancy extending the experience? Discover the full programme for Vignobles en Scène.
