In France, you know that summer has arrived when it’s time for La Soirée Blanche. It is the ultimate VIP evening, a celebration of conviviality, good food, and music. After last year’s magical experience, I knew that this event would become a yearly tradition for me. Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to return to the 11th edition of la Soirée Blanche de Reims.
Introduction
What is a Soirée Blanche? French for “white evening”, it was invented and made famous by Eddie Barclay, a producer. It is a decadent evening reminiscent of the chic and glamour of Saint-Tropezian nights. Every guest must wear white (usually sundresses for women, shirts and pants or shorts for men). Additionally, all decorations must also be white. Usually a picnic, attendance is only by reservation or invitation.
Hosted throughout France (and the world!), Reims is host to one of THE top Soirées, with tickets selling out in under a minute. Only about 45 minutes outside of Paris by train, people from all corners of the world try to get into this exclusive event. The grounds of the luxurious five-star Domaine Les Crayères host this party. Multi-Michelin Starred Chef Philippe Mille creates a menu. Champagne flows freely like nowhere else — in fact, it is the only drink available besides water.
This year marked the 11th anniversary of the Reims event. Over 3500 guests celebrated in the park of the former Polignac mansion. More than 1700 picnic baskets were distributed (each basket served two people). Thousands of champagne corks popped, a symphony of bubbly.
The Champagne
Lanson was the champagne of choice for this year’s event. It is one of the oldest champagne houses and is located just a few streets away. Every picnic basket received a standard bottle of Le Black Création Brut, their flagship. It was available in several sizes (along with their rosé) for purchase at the champagne bar on the grounds.
The Meal
The picnic baskets were charming and practical. Wooden boxes bearing Les Crayères’ logo contained a gourmet 4-course picnic for two, a white blanket, “outdoor-proof” glasses, a battery-operated candle, and bottled water . Turned upside down, the basket made a perfect picnic table.
The meal began with an exquisite mozzarella flower, served with a variety of tomatoes, arugula, pesto, and Parmesan crisps. Certainly, this crowd-pleaser was not only beautiful: it was refreshing and light for a summer evening. The presentation was flawless.
The main course included salmon with fine herb breadcrumbs, accompanied by candied sunny vegetables (aubergines, peppers). The salmon was cooked to perfection. The veggies were bursting with flavours from the south of France. It was light but filling. This was my favourite dish and it gives me inspiration for future meals!
This year’s choice of cheese was Brie de Meaux. Seasoned with hazelnuts and walnuts, the Chef added a hint of elderflower — a nod to the gardens on the estate. It was served with greens and a dried fruit medallion.
The meal ended with a dessert from the famed Maison Caffet. The sumptuous almond and fromage blanc tart had a secret red fruit layer within. The complementary flavours were absolutely delicious.
Overall, the champagne paired perfectly with the meal. It was interesting to experience the evolution of flavours of the champagne as it became warmer and how those flavours played with the different dishes. Well done to Chef and his team!
The Entertainment
While eating, we were treated to fantastic live music. Blacklight and the Corsican trio “Bande à part” covered French favourites. The headliner was a “Break Free Queen Tribute Show”. They were AWESOME. Not only did they play everyone’s favourite Queen songs, the band members perfectly emulated the spirit of the original musicians. It was certainly a treat that kept us dancing until the early hours of the morning!
We like to go big here in Champagne. It’s not a party unless there are fireworks! The impressive display was the perfect pairing for our drinks. To me, champagnes are the fireworks of wine world: sparkling and full of wonder. Enjoying both together at the same time was magical.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, La Soirée Blanche de Reims is a fantastic experience that delivers year after year. Hosted on a beautiful venue, expect delicious food, music that will make you want to dance, and endless champagne. This event is something that everyone attend at least once in their life! I look forward to the 12th edition next year!
