Wine Tours · Tour
Small-Group Champagne Day Trip by Van, Max 8 Guests, with Lunch and Grower Tasting
A day in the Champagne vineyards by van, in a group of up to 8, led by a guide born in Épernay. The maternity ward there was called Auban-Moet, built in 1893 with donations from the Moët & Chandon family, and children born in it are said to get a drop of champagne with their first breaths. That start in life led the guide to the chalk hillsides, to work among the vines and to develop a feel for nature and the vine. The day passes that knowledge on: skies, landscapes and people of the region. The program covers the village of Hautvillers, a lunch with a flute of champagne, a walk along the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay and a visit to an independent winegrower. Pickup and return are at Épernay Tourist Office or Reims center station.
What's included
- Private transportation
- Lunch
- All cellar visits and tastings are included
Itinerary
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7 Av. de Champagne, Épernay
7 Av. de Champagne, 51200 Épernay, France
Tourist Office.
Reims
51100 Reims, France
Reims center station.
Abbaye Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers
The route continues to Hautvillers, the cradle of Champagne. The village sits on a hillside with views of the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley and the Côte des Blancs. Against the nearby forest stands a Benedictine abbey whose intendant-cellarer in 1668 was Dom Pérignon, born in 1639 in Sainte-Menehould. He was one of the monks who improved the quality of the region's wine, and his work on blending grape varieties and vintages earned his fame. Behind the abbey's enclosed garden, the view covers the Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards of the Champagne appellation, a good place to follow the whole cycle of the vine and the handmade work of the winegrower.
Lunch at a traditional French restaurant
Lunch is in a traditional French restaurant, Chez Max or another depending on availability. Two menus are offered, plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. Everything comes with a flute of champagne, a glass of red wine and coffee.
Avenue de Champagne
After lunch, a short digestive walk (weather permitting) leads to the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, where the great houses were born. Estates such as Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger and De Venoge competed in architectural ambition here. Under the cobblestones lie 110 km of cellars and some 200 million bottles, which makes the avenue the richest in the world.
Independent winegrower visit
The end of the afternoon goes to an independent winegrower, who opens the cellars and shares part of the family's centuries-old story and the secrets of the wine. Such growers own 90% of the 34,000 hectares in the Champagne appellation, and they are the origin, memory and family tradition of the terroir. The visit ends with a commented tasting and tips on pairing food with champagne.
Return to the pickup point
The return is at the same place as the pickup, at 5:30 to 6:00 pm: either the Reims center station or the Tourist Office in Épernay, 7 avenue de Champagne.
Reims
A city tour of Reims by the guide passes the Gallo-Roman remains, the Place Royale and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of France were crowned.
Avenue de Champagne
An audio-guided cellar tour in the caves, taken on a little train.
7 Av. de Champagne, Épernay
7 Av. de Champagne, 51200 Épernay, France
Reims
51100 Reims, France
Not included
- Personal expenses
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
Show 5 moreShow less
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Visits to the Grandes Maisons as well as independent winegrowers may vary according to the availability of their schedules.
- Up to 8 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en, fr.
Reviews
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