Wine lovers visiting Paris often choose to take a day trip to Reims for Champagne tasting. Getting there via train from Paris is actually very easy and quick. Then you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy the bubbles at a few of the top Champagne houses in Reims.
Reims is the center of the Champagne world in France. You can visit world-famous estates in Reims and Epernay, such as Veuve Clicquot, Pommery, and Taittinger, or check out the smaller Champagne houses you may not have heard of.
All you’ll need are a few advanced appointments, your walking shoes (or a quick Uber ride), and enough time to do it justice.
Below you’ll find all you need to know about setting up and enjoying Champagne tours and tasting in Reims.
How to Visit the Champagne Region
The best way to discover the region is by driving The Champagne Trail, which covers over 250 miles that wind through rolling hills, along vineyard covered valleys and past quaint little villages. All along the way you can stop to visit the growers and winemakers, to taste Champagne, and to learn as much as you like about the tradition.
There are two main cities in the Champagne region to visit, and the Champagne trail will take you between the two within just a 30 minute drive. In Reims, you can visit world-famous Champagne houses, such as Veuve Clicquot, Pommery, and Taittinger.
In Epernay, you can spend some time walking along the Avenue de Champagne, popping in at tasting rooms along the way. The easiest way to get to the Champagne region is by car from Paris. If you’re already visiting, you can rent a car in Paris and take a day or overnight trip to Champagne.
You can take the train from Paris to Reims, but it’s not very easy to get around to the Champagne houses without a car, and you’ll definitely need a car to visit the countryside or to go into Epernay. Below you’ll find all you need to know to plan a road trip in the Champagne region, for wine tours and tasting.
Self-Guided or Group/Private Wine Tour
The first consideration you’ll probably be making is whether you want to do a self-guided or a group/private guided wine tour. If you don’t have a designated driver, or don’t wish to spit the wine instead of drinking it, you will need to take a tour or hire a driver.
Group Tour
There are many to choose from. You can go on a group tour, which are plentiful, often including up to 10 people and are on a pre-planned route that you can’t decide on. Tours typically go to great wineries and there’s a lot of information given, many include lunch – plus you don’t have to take care of a single detail.
Below are two group tours we recommend:
- Small Group Full Day Tour – Your go to three different Champagne houses, where you’ll try a variety of champagnes. There’s also an included three-course lunch along the way. (8 hours) BOOK HERE
- Reims Afternoon Tour to Epernay – Visit the UNESCO-listed Champagne Avenue in Epernay, the historic village of Hautvillers, and visit two Champagne houses for tastings. (4.5 hours) BOOK HERE
Private Tour
If you don’t want to go along with a bunch of other people and you’d like to have some say in the schedule, then a private tour is the way to go. Here are two that we recommend (in case there’s not a lot of availability).
What’s Included:
- First Visit – Explanation of the manufacturing process plus cave visit followed by a tasting of 3 Champagnes.
- Visit Hautvillers, the village where Dom Pérignon created Champagne.
- 3-Course Restaurant Lunch
- 2nd & 3rd Visits – A Grand Cru cellar and cave followed by a tasting of 3 Champagnes at each
Tour is 8 hours, 2 people minimum. $375/pp
What’s included:
- Return transport from Reims in a private shuttle (Mercedes Class V).
- English-speaking driver/guide, Champagne expert
- Visit & tasting at 2 Champagne houses
- Guided tour of Reims Cathedral
- Lunch reservation (payment not included)
Tour is 7 hours, 2 people minimum $599/pp
Self-Guided Tour
I usually prefer to do self-guided touring when I visit wine regions because it gives me the greatest flexibility and I actually really like researching and choosing the wineries I want to go to.
While there is a little more work involved because you have to set up all the tours yourself, there are tools that will help make this super easy. The one I use is called Rue des Vignerons. It’s a French website that makes booking wine appointments super easy.
The site has 450 wineries and distilleries, both family-owned and famous houses, that includes 1,500 bookable experiences, including tastings, tours, workshops, and meals. You can book online up to 30 minutes before and your appointment is confirmed instantly. This is the website I used to book all of my Bordeaux tasting appointments.
In our descriptions below, I will give you links directly to Rue des Vignerons for each winery so you can easily book it.
7 Best Champagne Houses in Reims to Visit
1. Champagne Pommery
Location: Place General Gouraud, 51100, Reims, France
Hours: Early April to mid-November: every day 9:30am-7pm. Mid-November to late March: every day 10am-6pm
Phone: +33(0)3.26.61.62.56
Email: visites@vrankenpommery.fr
The Pommery Elizabethan-style estate was built in the 19th century by the lady of the house, Jeanne Pommery. It is one of the most archtecturally stunning estates you can visit today. Pommery is also one of the biggest Champagne house today, producing over 500,000 cases of Champagne a year.
You’ll definitely want to stop here for a tour to see the ancient Roman caves and art nouveau tasting rooms. The chalk cave cellars are equally impressive, and can be access from an incredible staircase worth seeing – it’s 116 steps down to the cellars!
Your tour will end with a tasting of one of the famous Pommery Champagnes. There are various tours you can take at Pommery. Be sure to book in advance. The tours are given in English, French, and German.
- “Art of Champagne” Caves – 22€-30€: 1 hour tour of the Gallo-Roman chalk cellars, with explanations of the history, wine development of Pommery, plus a visit to the contemporary art exhibit, followed by a tasting. Choice of 1 glass for 22€, cuvee experience for 26€ or 2 glasses for 30€.
- Henry Vasnier’s Dream – 35€ 90 minute tour that follows the dream of Henry Vasnier, right arm man to Mrs. Pommery and patron of the City of Reims. Includes a visit of the Pommery Cellars and the Villa Demoiselle. Includes a 2-glass tasting.
2. Champagne Taittinger
Location: À la table de Thibaud IV – Champagne Taittinger, 20 rue de Tambour, 51100 Reims
Another Champagne house with an impressive chalk cave that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Taittinger will stun you from the moment you arrive at the impressive entrance gates.
Unfortunately, their main location is currently closed, but you can still visit Demeure des Comtes de Champagne in the center of Reims and try the tasting experience called “À la table de Thibaud IV”.
The experience is meant to showcase the life of Thibaud the fourth, King of Navarre, who was also a poet, while tasting the two signature cuvées of the House: the Brut Réserve and the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs.
It’s a mix of audio and tasting and is offered in English and French. The price is 60€ and it lasts about 1 hour.
#3 Champagne Lanson
Champagne Lanson is the only big House located in the heart of Reims that offers a unique visit experience that takes you on a journey from the vine to the flute. Their tour guides you on a journey through the different stages of the wine making process, providing a truly immersive experience.
You’ll see the vineyards, then be guided to the “Clos Lanson”, then to the various places where the cuvees are made, passing through the cuveries and finally to the cellars. The tour will be followed by a tasting of the House’s emblematic cuvée: Le Black Création 257.
Tours lasts approximately 2 hours and are available in both English and French.
#4 G.H. Martel & Co
Location: 17 rue des Creneaux, 51100, Reims, France
Hours: Daily 10am-1pm and 2pm-7pm. Tours in French and English until 5:30pm
Phone: +33 (0) 3 26 82 70 67
Email: boutique@champagnemartel.com
Located just around the corner from Veuve Clicquot and Taitttinger is another top Champagne house that offers tours and tastings: GH Martel & Co. This Champagne house also has a medieval chalk quarries, which was dug between the 4th and 15th centuries, and it is open to the public for tours.
As you descend into the cellar, at a depth of up to 22 meters, you’ll see their interesting collection of wine-making tools and machinery. The tour begins with a film, then leads you through the cellars and the ecomuseum, and then to their shop where you’ll taste 3 Champagnes.
They often have specials and deals available on their large range of wines, in case you’re looking for some steals to take back home with you. The tour and tasting takes about 1 hour. If you don’t have the time for a full tour, you can stop into the wine shop for a tasting at any time.
There are a few different flights to choose from ranging from 12-20€ Be sure to book your tour ahead of time by contacting the shop via phone or email.
#5 Champagne Mumm
Location: G.H. Mumm, 29 Rue du Champ de Mars, 51100 Reims, France
Hours: Daily 10am-1pm and 2pm-5:30 or 6pm, seasonally. Tours in French and English until 5:30pm
Boutique available during opening hours
Email:guides@mumm.fr
The House Mumm started in 1827 in the historic birthplace of the Champagne, Reims. This almost bicentenary estate opens the doors of its cellars where about 25 million bottles rest peacefully in the cellars.
The Mumm family, whose lineage includes barons and knights, dates back to the 12th century. They were originally wine merchants based in Cologne, Germany, but expanded into France when they saw potential for the region and expansion of their business. They’ve been going strong ever since.
Today Mumm is spread across nearly 25 kilometers in the heart of Reims. Visitors can explore the long history of this cellar and learn about the process they’ve followed for centuries.
There are three visit types: The Cordon Rouge Mumm experience, the discovery experience, and the 100% Grand Cru experience. The visit will end at one of the most beautiful museum about champagne. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to taste their Champagnes.
#6 Champagne Charles de Cazanove
Champagne Charles de Cazanove has been in business since 1811, and its production is 3 million bottles per year. It can be quite interesting visiting a large house like this to learn the Champagne making process. The facility was built in 2019, so it’s very modern.
You can book a tasting only, or embark on one of their three tours, which takes you to their production facility and give you an explanation of the process, along with a demonstration in their eco-museum.
The tour will be followed by a comparative tasting of 3 non-vintage Champagnes (2 whites and 1 rosé) or you can add on a vintage tasting as well.
#7 Champagne Pol Couronne
Champagne Pol Couronne was started in 2015. This family-owned champagne house, located in the historic city of Reims, offers a private tour and tasting in their showroom, so you can get an intimate look into the meticulous craft of champagne-making.
The personalized tastings here are exceptional. Your palate is in for a treat. Each sip allows you to taste the terroir, skill, and passion that go into making each bottle. Champagne Pol Couronne offers a tasting of 3 Champagnes, or 3 Grand Cru Champagnes
They also offer a Champagne masterclass and a sabering experience, if you’re looking for something more unique.
#8 Veuve Clicquot
Location: 1 Place des Droits de l’Homme, 51100 Reims, France
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm
Phone: +33 (0)3 26 89 53 90
Email: visitscenter@veuve-clicquot.fr
You’ve likely already heard of this Champagne brand, as it’s one of the most popular Champagnes being sold around the world. In case you’re thinking that means it’s not worth a visit to this Champagne house because it will be too touristy, we don’t think that’s an issue.
In fact, this was one of our favorite Champagne tours in Reims. The underground cellars of Veuve Clicquot might be one of the main reasons we love it here so much. The cellars are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage sight.
That’s not surprising when you learn that they’ve been making wine since 1772. In 1909, they bought these old underground quarrys to store their wine. There is some fascinating history in these caves, which you’ll learn all about during the tour.
After the tour of the cellar and facilities, you’ll have a chance to try the Champagne. There are a few different tickets you can purchase. Click here to see them all.
- Discovery Tour – 26€: 45min tour followed by a single tasting of Yellow Label Brut 26€. This tour is available Tuesday to Saturday.
- On the Footsteps of Madame Clicquot – 53€: 1 hr tour where you’ll learn all about Madame Clicquot, followed by a tasting of the Brut Yellow Label and prestige Cuvée La Grande Dame.
- Veuve Clicquot & Rose Champagne – 40€: In 1818, Madame Clicquot was the first to make a rose champagne blend, which changed the landscape of Champagne for ever. Learn all about the Rose on this 45 min tour, followed by a tasting.
Other Champagne Houses Nearby
Not too far away from Reims, there are many more opportunities for Champagne tasting. If you’re going to be in the area, I would definitely recommend stopping by a few of these:
Pressoria
Pressoria is the brand new sensory interpretation center for champagne wines. Housed in the walls of a former Pommery pressing center in the commune of Aÿ, the immersive tour of this emblematic cultural site will help you rediscover champagne through your five senses.
Villa Signolle
A family-run business since 1802, they offer specialist champagnes for experts and amateurs alike.
They do the harvesting, handling and winemaking of all their own grapes, from one of the best terroirs in the Champagne region. Their villa is on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. You can taste on their terrace or in the lounge, inside a house listed as a UNESCO heritage site.
Champagne Le Gallais
In 1927, Hachod Fringhian, the grandfather of Charlotte Morgain Le Gallais, obtained the Clos du Château de Boursault, which had long belonged to Madame Veuve Clicquot. Five generations later, Charlotte runs part of the estate: 7 parcels with their own characteristics, in the family vineyard, overlooking the Marne valley. The press, the cellars and the wine storehouses are also located in the clos, which guarantees a great freshness of the fruit at the time of its pressing and transformation.
How to Get from Paris to Reims
You can get to Reims from Paris by taking the TGV train. From anywhere in Paris, just get yourself to the East Railway Station. You can take the Paris subway to arrive at this station. This makes it very easy to visit Reims, no matter where in Europe you’re arriving from.
You don’t have to have tickets for the train in advance, but during busy times we do recommend buying them in advance to make sure you can get a seat. There have been times that the train has been full and we’ve had to take the next one. You can purchase tickets in advance on Trainline.com.
The train journey to Reims is only about 45 minutes. If you plan to go to Epernay – another of the nearby major Champagne cities – you can continue on from Reims on the TER train, which departs every 30 minutes and takes around 40 minutes to get there.
How to Get Around in Reims
One of the big questions that is often asked by tourists coming to Reims on a day trip from Paris is how to get around to the Champagne house. There are three convenient ways to get around. You can choose your method based on your own needs:
- Walk: It’s actually quite easy to walk around Reims. The biggest hurtle is getting from the train station (or center of Reims) to the area where you find most of the Champagne houses. This is about a 2 mile walk (40 mins). If you don’t want to take this initial walk, you can take a quick Uber or taxi ride from the train station. We recommend starting at Veuve Clicquot, as it’s the furthest way from town (2 miles). To walk between any of the 5 Champagne houses mentioned, it will take you about 5 minutes or less.
- Uber or Taxi: If you can’t or don’t want to walk, you can take an uber or taxi from the train station to any of the Champagne houses. Once you’re ready to go on to the next, you can call another Uber or taxi to take you there.
- Rent a car: There is a convenient place near the train station to rent a car for the day. In fact, it’s just a few steps outside the door to the train station. It’ll cost around 40€ to rent a car for a day. We recommend using Expedia to book your rental car.
If you’re staying overnight in Reims, you’ll quickly learn that there isn’t a huge selection of hotels. We stayed at Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix. If you’re looking for a more luxury stay, try the Chateau Les Crayeres.
⇒ Be sure to check out our list of the drinks you should try in France. There’s so much more to enjoy beyond the Champagne.
See the map below for directions to your Reims Champagne tours.
CONCLUSION
Once you’ve visited a few of these top Champagne tours in Reims, you’ll have a much better understanding of how Champagne is made and the history behind the industry and their unique stories.
It’s a great way to expand your knowledge of the craft and appreciate it even more than you probably already do. If you have a favorite Champagne house you want to share with our readers, leave us a comment!
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Laura is the founder and editor of the travel blogs Savored Sips and Savored Journeys. She is dedicated to sharing the best information about drinks found around the world.
Thank you so much for this perfect trip plan!
Sooooo helpful 🙂
Glad you found it useful!
Thank you so much for your tips! Were there any bakeries nearby to grab a snack or light lunch between tastings? I seem to only be able to see these closer to the train yet am keen to do both Pommery & Veuve tastings (and will clearly needs some food between these!)
There are a few cheese shops and bakeries in town, but not right near the Champagne houses. I would recommend picking up some cheese, bread, pastries and taking them with you, so you don’t have to find something in between.
We’re planning an overnight in Reims next month – do you have any favorite places for dinner?
We really enjoyed L’Atelier and L’Alambic, which has a fun environment.
Are children (age 13) allowed on these tours? Thanks so much for the article! Very helpful.
Yes, they are allowed.
Do you have to book a tour or can you just show up and do a tasting? We are planning a day trip for Christmas Eve. We have a tour and tasting booked for Veuve Clicquot but wanted to be able to try one or two others without doing the tour.
For most places you need to book a tour. Not many just do tastings. However, if they do you would still likely need to make a reservation for Christmas Eve. Send them an email and ask what they offer. Veuve Clicquot is actually one that offers just tastings.
Great information, thank you for your detail! I’m planning a visit, but having trouble locating information for a tour at Laurent Perrier. Do you happen to know if they do tours?!
Hi Ashley, I think that tours may be closed to the public at this time. I couldn’t find any current tour information either.
We are considering doing some biking while visiting. Question…should we do Reims on foot one day and bike to Epernay day 2? Or, would a bike in the city be an asset or a hinderance? We wish to do lots of champagne tasting and plan on visiting both areas. We are only there two full days.
Melissa, I think a bike would be a great asset in both places. If only one day, I would bike around Reims and walk around Epernay, but you can definitely bike both. It’s about a 28-mile cycle between and easy roads.
Another nice address is Champagne Roger-Constant Lemaire, we tasted 4 our delicious champagnes and we plan to go back next year. They are situated in a village called Villers sous Châtillon between Reims and Epernay.
Fantastic! Thanks for the suggestion, Chris.