Vide-Grenier des Riceys

The Vide-Grenier des Riceys: Bargain Hunting and Vineyards in Southern Champagne

The commune of Les Riceys (10340) hosts its annual car boot sale each year, one of the most anticipated community events in this wine-growing town in the south of the Aube. Located at the edge of the department, at the gateway to the Champagne Côte des Bar, Les Riceys is a commune with a triple village identity and exceptional wine heritage.

Les Riceys, a Commune of Three Villages and a Unique Rosé

Les Riceys is an atypical commune, composed of three distinct villages — Ricey-Bas, Ricey-Haut, and Ricey-Haute-Rive — each with its own church and identity. This village triptych, nestled in the Laigne valley amidst the vineyards, offers a panorama of great architectural and landscape beauty.

Les Riceys is world-renowned for its rosé des Riceys, a very fine still wine produced from the Pinot Noir grape variety, whose controlled designation of origin is one of the smallest and rarest in France. Only a fraction of the harvest is selected to produce this wine with aromas of liquorice and red fruits, produced in limited quantities by about forty winegrowers. The commune also produces Champagne from the Côte des Bar, known for its aromatic power.

A Car Boot Sale in an Exceptional Wine-Growing Setting

The car boot sale of Les Riceys benefits from the incomparable setting offered by the three villages and their terraced vineyards. Exhibitors, both individuals from the town and from neighboring communes of the Côte des Bar — Bar-sur-Seine, Gyé-sur-Seine, Celles-sur-Ource, Polisot — offer a fine selection of second-hand items: rustic furniture, tableware and porcelain, old wine cellars and wine-making accessories, books and regional documents, clothing, trinkets, and decorative objects.

The surrounding vineyards invite visitors to extend their bargain-hunting day with a visit to the cellars of the winegrowers of Les Riceys, many of whom offer tastings of rosé des Riceys and Champagne from the Côte des Bar. This unique combination of bargain hunting and wine tourism makes the car boot sale of Les Riceys a particularly flavorful experience.

The Côte des Bar, a Champagne Terroir in the South of the Aube

The Côte des Bar is the southern part of the Champagne vineyard, stretching across the south of the Aube department between Bar-sur-Aube and Bar-sur-Seine. This terroir, planted mainly with Pinot Noir on Kimmeridgian limestone soils identical to those of Chablis and Sancerre, produces Champagnes of remarkable typicity, recognized and appreciated by connoisseurs.

The region is dotted with picturesque wine-growing villages, hiking trails, and wine routes that allow visitors to discover the natural and human heritage of this remote corner of Champagne. The forests of the region, rich in game and mushrooms, and the fish-filled rivers of the Laigne and the Seine add to the tourist appeal of the area.

Practical Information

The car boot sale is held annually in Les Riceys (10340). Entry is free for visitors. The commune is accessible from Bar-sur-Seine (D70, approx. 15 km) or from Troyes (D671, approx. 50 km). For precise dates and registration, contact the town hall of Les Riceys or local associations.