We just toasted freedom with fireworks on the Fourth of July—but now it’s France’s turn. Tomorrow is Bastille Day, and while we celebrate in America with beer and barbecue, the French are more likely to pop Champagne and pull out a cheese board. Vive la différence.

In honor of our baguette-loving, terroir-obsessed, revolutionary friends across the Atlantic, I made you something special: A Wine Lover's Guide to Paris + Champagne. It's a free PDF guide filled with all my favorite spots from my last two trips to help you travel and drink like a local.

But first… a little history.

Vive la Révolution (du Vin)

Bastille Day commemorates July 14, 1789—the day French citizens stormed the Bastille prison and kicked off the revolution that would bring down the monarchy. It’s a holiday rooted in rebellion, equity, and the radical belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table.

So what better way to celebrate than with wine?

Because for a long time, wine was the realm of kings and clergy. But the French Revolution literally changed the map—redistributing church and aristocratic vineyards to the people. Over time, wine became woven into the national identity, not as luxury, but as a cultural birthright of all French people.

Paris and Champagne may be only an hour apart by train—but they’re worlds apart in feel. Paris is all glitz, excitement and city glamour: bistros spilling onto cobblestone streets, bustling marchés, and candlelit wine bars tucked into secret corners of the Marais.

Champagne, on the other hand, is rolling vineyard hills, dramatic chalk caves, and wines with more electricity than the Eiffel Tower. It’s quiet, regal, and a little surreal—like stepping into a fairy tale, but with real hard-working vignerons and bubbles that will blow your mind.

But don’t let the grandeur fool you. For all its prestige, Champagne has rebellion in its bones.

In the early 1900s, growers rioted in the streets to protest fraudulent labeling that threatened the region’s identity—tipping barrels and torching wine presses to demand protections. It worked: Champagne became one of the first regions in France to receive AOC status in 1936.

During World War II, locals hid themselves—and their wines—in ancient limestone caves, surviving Nazi occupation and preserving the bottles that would later help revive the region’s economy and spirit.

And today, a new revolution is underway. Small grower-producers are reclaiming power from the big houses—farming their own grapes, making their own wines, and championing transparency, intention, and place over prestige.

Even the idea of Champagne is rebellious. This is a wine region that wasn’t supposed to work. It was too cold to ripen grapes like the rest of France—so instead of giving up, the winemakers pioneered their own technique: the méthode traditionnelle, now the wordwide benchmark way to make sparkling wine.

Talk about turning rebellion into legacy. Today, Champagne is one of the most iconic wine styles on earth—the drink of choice when the odds have been overcome and the corks deserve to fly.

 Let them drink wine

In the spirit of Liberté, Égalité, et Vin pour Tous... I made you something fun.

A (free) Wine Lover’s Guide to Paris & Champagne—think of it as a revolutionary roadmap to the best wine bars, bottle shops, Champagne producers, and dinner tables in both regions.

I made this guide because so many of you asked where I went, where I drank, and how to make the most of just a few days in these iconic places.

It includes both splurge-worthy stops and cozy holes-in-the-wall, depending on what your spirit—or your budget—is calling for. Because wine truly is for everyone, and there’s no one “right” way to do France.

Download it. Share it. Forward it to your Francophile bestie. Or just tuck it in your back pocket for the next time France calls.

Because if you’re going to storm a proverbial Bastille, there’s no better way to celebrate than with Champagne.

Santé et solidarité,

Kelsey

DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE

Revolutionary Wines, Closer to Home

If you’re not ready to book a flight to France, come drink regon wine with me in person! Every Sunday at 2 p.m., I host a wine tasting experience in Portland featured through Airbnb Experiences. We taste through five rotating Oregon wines—some classic, some surprising—and talk about the history, geography, and what makes this region one of the most exciting places for wine in the world right now. You’ll learn why Oregon is more than just Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and we’ll explore wines from both legendary producers and new-school winemakers pushing the boundaries. Whether you’re visiting town or already a local who wants to deepen your knowledge (and your palate), it’s a delicious way to spend a Sunday. 

Book Your Spot