France 2026 — Day Twenty-one · Saturday 13 June

Hero photo for day 21

43 photographs from Saturday 13 June, in the order they were taken. The cellars, and the way home. Read Part Five — Épernay.

Saturday 13 June · from 8.50am

Morning in Épernay

Eggs at the market, by the tray — 8.50am · Eggs at the market, by the tray

The éclair counter — 9.30am · The éclair counter

House rules at the Nid d'Or — 9.48am · House rules at the Nid d'Or

The brochure makes its case — 9.48am · The brochure makes its case

Vines under the flat sun — 10.19am · Vines under the flat sun

Two in the vines above the town — 10.26am · Two in the vines above the town

Into the village, single file — 10.30am · Into the village, single file

Coffee under the flag — 10.40am · Coffee under the flag

Between the walls — 10.47am · Between the walls

The mairie, flags out — 10.48am · The mairie, flags out

Gobillard & Fils, doors open — 10.50am · Gobillard & Fils, doors open

This way, apparently — 10.51am · This way, apparently

At the barrel wheel — 10.57am · At the barrel wheel

The line-up on the sill — 10.58am · The line-up on the sill

The flight, on the barrel — 11.01am · The flight, on the barrel

Dom Pérignon, arms open — 11.34am · Dom Pérignon, arms open

Keeping the monk company — 11.34am · Keeping the monk company

Saturday 13 June · from 12.30pm

Midday

A spritz in the archway — 12.30pm · A spritz in the archway

Little green tartlets to start — 12.34pm · Little green tartlets to start

The board, dealt — 12.35pm · The board, dealt

The monk, in better light — 1.35pm · The monk, in better light

Flutes in the garden — 2.55pm · Flutes in the garden

Saturday 13 June · from 3.07pm

Afternoon

The formal garden, empty — 3.07pm · The formal garden, empty

The maison, straight-backed — 3.40pm · The maison, straight-backed

The tower over the umbrellas — 3.43pm · The tower over the umbrellas

Atelier 1834 — 3.44pm · Atelier 1834

The Boizel list — 3.49pm · The Boizel list

Rosé, white, and a Badoit — 3.59pm · Rosé, white, and a Badoit

The tasting list, studied — 4.03pm · The tasting list, studied

Two against the brick — 4.52pm · Two against the brick

Under the umbrellas — 4.53pm · Under the umbrellas

The garden, mid-glare — 4.55pm · The garden, mid-glare

Sun over the courtyard — 4.55pm · Sun over the courtyard

Carafe and flutes — 4.59pm · Carafe and flutes

The courtyard, again, happily — 5.00pm · The courtyard, again, happily

The painted flute, raised — 5.06pm · The painted flute, raised

A toast under the Moët parasol — 5.33pm · A toast under the Moët parasol

Holding the last seat of the afternoon — 5.35pm · Holding the last seat of the afternoon

The white lounge — 5.46pm · The white lounge

Saturday 13 June · from 6.10pm

Evening

Evening in the glass — 6.10pm · Evening in the glass

Dinner, composed — 7.27pm · Dinner, composed

Notre-Dame at full gold — 8.28pm · Notre-Dame at full gold

▶ 7.04pmAt the table in Épernay, 7.04pm — the church over his shoulder.