As much as I love to try local wines when travelling, champagne is an exception to this rule. In my beloved Rome, I spent a long afternoon at Remigio Champagne e Vino, a tiny restaurant-wine bar favoured by the locals. If you love grower champagne and want to catch a glimpse of genuine residential Rome, now you know where to go.

Four kilometres southeast from Colosseum, Remigio is located in the Appio Latino district, on a quiet street where you would never expect to bump into a champagne paradise. Yet, for eight years Remigio has delighted local people getting together for aperitifs and cold cuts.

First of all, Remigio’s owner Fabrizio Pagliardi knows his stuff. Specialised in champagne and natural wine, he has created a fascinating grower champagne selection for Remigio. Many of my favourite vignerons: Vincent Laval, Jérôme Prévost, Fred Savart, Ulysse Collin, David Léclapart, Alexandre Chartogne, Ruppert-Leroy, Dominique Moreau and Vouette & Sorbée.

For example, Vouette & Sorbée’s Fidèle, Blanc d’Argile, Saignée de Sorbée, Textures, Sobre and Extrait are all available at Remigio’s. Even better, some in magnums!

Certainly, in addition to champagne, Remigio concentrates on French and Italian wines as well as nice German Rieslings. But the place is not only about wine. Genuine atmosphere and great music – from soul of the 70s to old-school jazz and singer-songwriters – play a big role.

For food, Remigio serves delicious classics such as vitello tonnato, pastrami, burrata and lasagne. Nevertheless, the cuisine is not solely Italian: you can, as well, treat yourself with a classic tartar or Danish smørrebrod. The prices of these dishes vary between 10 and 15 euro. Around the happy hour, Remigio prepares pintxo-styled small tapas to go with wine. Dining here is very informal.

That said, the wines can also be purchased home. Afterwards, while digesting my croque monsieur with another glass of Ardinat, I buy a bottle of Champagne Ruppert-Leroy‘s Fosse-Grely.

My suggestion, overall? Grab a friend or two, hop on a metro and head to Appio Latino district. Or do like I did, walking the whole way from Northern Trastevere.

Of course, if you choose to walk this route, you won’t regret. After bigger expressways, you will find yourself on 2,000 years old, cobbled Via Appia Antica, the first highway built for the Roman Empire. Eventually, this road leads you to lush Parco della Caffarella, an unspoiled haven in the middle of hectic Rome.

It was a pity, indeed, that my stay in Rome was such a short one, since Dominique Moreau (the woman behind Marie-Courtin champagnes) is coming to Remigio on upcoming Wednesday. But you can’t always win.

Via Santa Maria Ausiliatrice 15 (Appio-Tuscolano). Daily nonstop 10:30–24. Tel: 39 (6) 789 228. Metro: Furio Camillo / Colli Albani (line A) or train: Roma Tuscolana.