Paris, a glass of Deutz, and the beginning of a memorable week

Early in June, Danuska and I spent a week in Paris with close friends. While the city offered countless attractions, I was most excited by the opportunity to explore its Champagne merchants and neighbourhood wine shops.

On our first morning, I found myself drawn to a local Champagne merchant. The shelves were lined with everything from celebrated houses to small independent growers, many of whom are difficult to find elsewhere. What surprised me most was the pricing. I had expected Champagne in Paris to be expensive, yet many bottles were more affordable than those I regularly see back home in the Netherlands.

A few evenings later, we celebrated our friend Lee's birthday at L'Artisan du Burger. The house Champagne was Deutz Brut Classic. At €14 a glass it wasn't inexpensive, but from the very first sip I knew this trip would be memorable.

Looking back, it wasn't the Eiffel Tower or the Champs-Élysées that defined our week. It was that first glass of Champagne. It reminded me that the best discoveries are rarely planned. They begin with curiosity, a recommendation, or simply walking through the right door.