Your Champagne tour starts in the centre of Reims at 9.20am. You will meet your expert local guide in front of the tourist office situated next to Reims centre train station and begin with a discovery of Reims city centre.
Drive by “Notre Dame de Reims”, one of the first monuments to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Absorb the historical atmosphere of the city, home of the coronation of the kings of France. Admire the “Grandes Maisons de Champagne” such as Taittinger and Pommery.
The first Champagne house visit of the of the day will be to Maison de Champagne Veuve Clicquot for a guided tour of their underground cellars (if not available, Veuve Clicquot can be replaced by a similar Champagne house). Your guide will introduce you to the Champagne making process and you will visit the 25-meter deep 2000 year-old cellars. Finish the visit by tasting 4 of their emblematic champagne cuvées.
Leaving Reims and heading towards the heart of the champagne region you will stop to enjoy a moment in the champagne vineyards, with breathtaking views of the UNESCO World Heritage Champagne vines. Your guide will tell you about the terroir as you go.
After this stop, it's onwards to visit the village of Hautvillers, the birthplace of Champagne! The visit includes a step inside the church where the famous monk Dom Pérignon is buried.
Have you heard of the famous "Avenue de Champagne"?! Well; it's time to drive down the most prestigious and exciting road in Champagne. Known as the "Capital of Champagne", this famous road in Epernay is home to some of the most prestigious Champagne Houses like Pol Roger, Perrier Jouët, Moët & Chandon and Boizel.
Your 2nd Champagne house visit of the day is in Mareuil-sur-Ay at a typical Champagne house (Le Clos Corbier). After a Champagne quiz, you'll learn how to identify the different aromas and flavors that can be found in Champagne wines through an olfactory workshop. Get competitive as you do a blind taste test of 3 different champagnes from small wineries all while eating some local snacks.
Lunch: Immerse yourself into the French lifestyle with a traditional lunch of homemade regional specialties paired with a variety of Champagnes.
After lunch you will spend a wonderful afternoon alongside a Champagne producer. This is your chance to get behind the scenes. You'll be guided for a visit to the press, the tank room and the Champagne cellars and witness the expertise of a small champagne maker. And of course, the best bit; you will enjoy a tasting of several of their Champagnes and acquire tasting knowledge as you try the rare champagnes!
After a day exploring the best of the Champagne region, your guide will drop you off in Reims in front of the tourist office situated next to Reims centre train station at 6.00 pm.
INCLUSIONS
- Local English speaking guide
- Small-group tour (maximum 8 people)
- Reims pick-up and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Entrance fees for visit and tastings at 2 family-run wineries
- Entrance fees for visit and tastings at Champagne Veuve Clicquot
- Lunch
- 13 tastings
EXCLUSIONS
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Personal expenses
- Other drinks
- Pick-up and drop off in Paris not available (we recommend taking the train)
