The Must-sees 3h30 from Epernay (Private Half day Champagne Tour)

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Discover the famous "Avenue de Champagne" a must-see Champagne UNESCO World Heritage Site in Epernay, the Capital of the Champagne vineyard. This Avenue is considered as "the most expensive Avenue in the world" with its prestigious Champagne houses, its mansions and its 100 kilometers of cellars which hide 200 million bottles. A commented passage in Avenue de Champagne is planned to explain the history of its superb mansions and production buildings belonging for centuries to the Champagne Houses like Moët & Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger, etc.

   Passes by

2. In Hautvillers, village called the “Cradle of Champagne”, enjoy a private tour of the Church where the grave of Dom Pérignon, known as the spiritual father of Champagne, is. We will tell you his story and you will finally know whether or not he is the inventor of Champagne !

   30 min

3. In Hautvillers, we will also stop in the historical hillsides of Champagne listed as Word Heritage Site by Unesco to enjoy the most magnificent panorama of Champagne overlooking the Marne Valley, the place where Dom Pérignon carried out his experiments in winemaking. It is the ideal place in the heart of the vineyards to take unforgettable photos of you and this breathtaking landscape. We will visit a family of independent producer/grower and give you explanations on the Champagne making process, visit to the press, winery and cellar. You will taste there, during a commented tasting, 3 different Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru*. *depending on the season and availability, this visit/tastings may take place in a village of the "Côte des Blancs" or in Aÿ-Champagne.

   1.5 h

4. You will also discover the famous village of Aÿ-Champagne, its hillsides listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO and its very famous Grand Cru vineyards. Do you know that the village of Aÿ-Champagne was the main center of the Champagne industry in the 16th century and still has a very special place ? The kings of France had their own presses there and the wines of Champagne were formerly called "Wines of Aÿ". You will discover a part of this historic village and its famous vineyard mainly planted with Pinot noir where we will tell you about the work of the vines, the grape varieties, this exceptional Terroir, sustainable viticulture... We will also stop in front of the headquarters of famous Champagne Houses of Aÿ such as Bollinger, Deutz, Ayala.. During the tour, in addition to the Champagnes, taste the 3 essential Champagne alcohols and aperitifs : Ratafia, Fine de la Marne and Marc de Champagne from the Goyard Distillery which is the oldest in Champagne.

   1 h

5. We will also pass through the Premier Cru village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Marne Valley with its historic hillsides listed as well as World Heritage Site by Unesco and mainly planted with Pinot Noir. This is the village where more confidential Champagne Houses are located : Champagne Billecart-Salmon and Philipponnat. We will stop in the heart of the vineyards to admire another amazing panoramic view at the viewpoint called "Mont du Gruguet". You will discover an exceptional panorama from where you will see both the famous "Côte des Blancs", Kingdom of Chardonnay Grand cru and the villages and vineyards of the Marne Valley on the historic hillsides of Champagne, where Champagne was born.

   30 min

6. We will also cross the small wine-growing village of Mutigny in the heart of the vineyards which is located above Aÿ-Champagne. A charming early 16th century church overlooks the vines.

   Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 42 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Fabulous tour!

  Maelle, we want to sincerely thank you for a wonderful tour this morning. Your passion, knowledge, and genuine interest in meeting new people were truly amazing! The views were beautiful, we learned so much from you and the Champagne was pretty good too :-) We can’t wait to return and explore more of this beautiful region. Visiting the independent Champagne houses was a highlight, especially because there was never any pressure to purchase their products. Thanks again, Craig and Coral.

  craigbG8508QXSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5A great half day out learning about champagne

  Really enjoyed our afternoon with Phillipe who was hugely knowledgeable about the area and making of champagne. A great half day out!

  weefi4September 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Wedding anniversary

  Ran very smoothly, well organised, lots of information & very enjoyable

  emmetb728September 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Excellent quality wines...

  Excellent quality wines tasted. Our guide Valéria was 10/10: very knowledgeable, accommodating, and pleasant. Highly recommend.

  TC_CAugust 2026via Viator

• 5Make Sure Phillipe is Your Guide - A fabulous day in Epernay!

  I know I am late on this review, but it is still worth writing! My best friend and I booked this tour and had an amazing experience - absolutely stunning views! Phillipe made this tour exciting, interesting, and a ton of fun! A real expert who grew up in the area, he told us so many interesting stories and factoids. And, well, the champagne was fabulous! This is a must-do for your Champagne Region adventures!

  TeakupsJuly 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5The best of Champagne, with a bubbly host

  A wonderful way to experience the best of this region! Maelyne picked us up in a Citroen EV jeep from our hotel in Ay and guided us throughout. From Dom Perignon’s resting place in Hautvilliers to the Avenue de Champagne, and a tour of the wine making process with a tasting at Jean Milan, a fifth generation champagne maker. Along the way we had plenty of stops to admire the views over vineyards and valleys. We learned a lot, and loved spending the afternoon with Maelyne.

  820sarahJuly 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Reims

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 168 experiences we list in Reims.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 20 of 168.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Reims

Reims, the city of Champagne, is known for the cathedral where French kings were crowned and for the chalk cellars beneath its champagne houses.

Reims Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece of the thirteenth century, was the coronation church of most French kings, and its façade is covered in statues, including the Smiling Angel. Inside, stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall glow in the apse. Beside it, the Palais du Tau, the former archbishop's palace, holds treasures from the coronations, and the Basilica of Saint-Remi shows earlier Romanesque and Gothic work.

Top-ranked sights in Reims: Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims), Pommery Champagne (Domaine Pommery), House of Mumm (Maison Mumm).

See all 168 experiences in Reims