Champagne Buying Guide: An Unrivaled Selection

Another Champagne Tent Event is in the books, and we’re still riding the wave of excitement that follows an afternoon spent with so many remarkable producers. This month’s Champagne Newsletter celebrates that same spirit—spotlighting the unforgettable wines of Launois, sharing stories from Champagne Buyer Gary Westby, and inviting you to keep exploring through our Champagne Club and exclusive grower selections. As the holidays approach, we’ve also gathered a lineup of exceptional Champagne values to have on hand for every toast, dinner, and celebration to come. Raise a glass with us to another season of discovery, connection, and great bubbles.

• Another Successful Champagne Tent Event!
• The Unforgettable Blanc des Blancs of Champagne Launois
• Get to Know Champagne Buyer Gary Westby
• Keep the Celebration Going: Join the K&L Champagne Club
• Champagne Values to Keep On Hand This Holiday Season
• Champagne Collectibles: Celebrations In Themselves

Thank you all so much for supporting another epic Champagne Tent Event. This year, we brought the events back to Hollywood and Redwood City, both our longest-running stores in the Southern and Northern California areas, respectively. Since 2007, we’ve had the honor of hosting the winemakers and representatives of some of the best Champagne houses in France, all under one tent (or multiple umbrellas!). Thank you to all who traveled, whether from France or across town, to join us this past weekend. We are huge advocates for knowing the people behind the wines, and events like this show us how important it is to connect them with our customers. We all felt happy and grateful by the end of the events—and excited for next year. A toast to Champagne and to Champagne lovers! Shop the full lineup here.

— Gary Westby, Champagne Buyer

We’re very fortunate to be the importer for this cult producer of Blanc de Blancs from the renowned village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Launois is the only Champagne I’ve ever sold to someone from Champagne—who then brought it back home with them! It’s that sought after. All Grand Cru, estate-grown Champagne rarely reaches this level of quality, and when it does, it’s almost always far more expensive.

Today, Bernard Launois and his daughter, Séverine, run the estate—one of the largest grower-producers in Champagne, with nearly 50 hectares under vine. Their entire production is Chardonnay, harvested about ten days later than most growers to capture greater richness without losing the region’s signature chalky minerality. All vineyards lie within Le Mesnil, long regarded as the pinnacle site for Chardonnay and commanding some of the highest fruit prices in the region. Eschewing stainless steel, Bernard continues to ferment in the enamel-lined iron tanks that have defined the house style for decades. The resulting wines are both lush and vibrant, marrying depth and precision with remarkable purity and focus.

On the occasion of the annual Champagne Tent Event, we are revisiting an interview with Champagne Buyer Extraordinaire, Gary Westby. Gary has now been with K&L for 25 years and has single-handedly built one of the most dynamic Champagne programs around. Get to know the man behind the bubbles with this interview we conducted upon his 20th anniversary.

Gary Westby has been a part of K&L’s team for nearly half of the company’s history. He’s seen it change and grow, and has put his own mark on K&L by creating one of the best Champagne programs on the planet. He’s put his mark on this blog, too, by being a prolific, fascinating writer full of stories of lavish meals and friendly visits with winemakers. To top it off, he’s a genuinely nice person and has a lot of fans around K&L. Today marks his 20th anniversary, and we’re celebrating! Gary indulged me a few questions, so below you’ll find a bit about the man behind the Champagne curtain.

KS: What were you were doing before K&L? Have you always been in the wine biz?

GW: I have been in the wine business since I was 21, always on the retail side. Before that, I worked as a bass player and in the bicycle business. I am the only person I know who got a raise by taking an entry level job in wine! My father gave me a bottle of 1970 Fonseca Port for my 21st birthday, and it changed my life. I quickly became obsessed with wine, and was in the business within three months. Keep reading On the Trail.

We’re still buzzing from this year’s Champagne Tent Event—it’s hard not to after an afternoon spent tasting with so many incredible producers and hearing their stories firsthand. Events like this remind us why Champagne is so special: the history, the craft, and the joy that comes with every glass.

If you’re feeling the same spark and want to keep exploring, the K&L Champagne Club is the perfect way to do it. Every other month, you’ll receive two standout bottles for just $69.99—a value made possible by the long-standing relationships our Champagne buyer has built over decades with small grower-producers. The focus is on these same vignerons who farm their own vines and craft wines that rival the big houses for a fraction of the price. These are the bottles that prove Champagne—despite being one of the most expensive regions in the world—can still be an everyday pleasure.

Each shipment is tailored to the season and includes tasting notes, producer stories, and behind-the-scenes insights that connect you to the region. It’s a way to keep discovering, learning, and celebrating long after the tent comes down.

Two bottles. Every other month. Endless discoveries.

The holidays call for Champagne—and plenty of it. Whether you’re hosting, gifting, or simply toasting the season, it pays to have a few reliable bottles on hand. Below you’ll find a curated selection of grower and house Champagnes that deliver outstanding quality at exceptional prices. From classic Brut to Grand Cru Rosé, these are the bottles that overdeliver for every occasion, from quiet nights in to the biggest celebrations of the year.

Sometimes an occasion calls for pulling out all the stops and opening a bottle of truly statement-making, luxury Champagne. We’re always on the hunt for these exceptional cuvées and are proud to offer one of the most extensive selections on the market, all with impeccable provenance. For a bottle worthy of building a celebration around, look no further.