I can’t think of a more perfect trip to celebrate a best friend’s birthday than where Champagne is made!
If you are planning a trip to Champagne Valley, here are a few key takeaways:
- Take the train from Paris! Super easy and 45 minutes direct to Reims
- 1-2 cellar tours per day is all you need! They start to get repetitive and you really only want to taste the champagne after all!!
- Don’t book the first tour of the day. Sleep in and enjoy the mornings a bit
- Champagne isn’t actually cheaper here, but it does taste better right at the source!
Champagne houses we visited:
- Champagne Mercier
- Moet & Chandon
- GH Mumm
- Vranken Pommery
- Veuve Cliquot
- Tattinger
- Perrier-Jouet
Champagne Mercier
Tour was 1.5 hours. After a really long and slow elevator down to the cellar, you board a train that takes you around. This was the only tour that took you outside to see grape vines, although not actually used in production. The tasting is then done inside on the main floor. Located in Epernay on Champagne Avenue. (10 min walk to Champagne Avenue)
Perrier-Jouet
We opted to have some food (and more champagne!) in their outdoor garden in between tours. The garden itself was so lovely and the food portions were very generous. Located in Epernay on Champagne Avenue
Moet & Chandon
Tour was 1.5 hours and started with an exhibit of some artwork (beads and jewels on bottles) before heading down to the cellar. The tasting was done downstairs in a private room. Located in Epernay on Champagne Avenue,
Vranken Pommery
This tour was also 1.5 hours, but they have it set up like a pop up art gallery. This years theme was Melodies and there was music playing. I found this tour to be a nice break from being 100% about the champagne making process, but the package we purchased only offered one tasting. Pommery was run by a woman!
Veuve Cliquot
This was by far the most photogenic house! Their marketing team surely knows how to capitalize on their branding and signature yellow color. The gift shop had everything you could imagine for sale, but at a steep price tag. There wasn’t a corner left untouched drenched in Veuve yellow: Sun Club and restaunt outside, to an impressive waiting room and lower level with branded foosball! The tour itself was 1.5 hours too, but included a room with aromas to smell the different grapes. The tasting was done in the cellar, which is a bit chilly at 55 degrees F. Random fact – Veuve means widow and Madame Clicqout ran the company at the young age of 27 after her husbands passing.
Taittenger
This was our 3rd tour of the day so we were a bit zoned out by this time, but it is a beautiful house. Tasting room is really comfortable and decorated pretty after their recent renovations.
GH Mumm
They were nice enough to reschedule our tour to another day as my friends had issues charging their electric rental car (that’s another story!) so we had to do a super early AM tour our last day. Needless to say we were toured out by this point and were more interest in tasting the bubbles! Located walking distance to Reims downtown and the train station with a lovely outdoor courtyard.
Staying in Reims
My friend booked a super cute apartment right in the center of Reims with 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room and 1.5 bathrooms. We were a bit confused as one bathroom didn’t have a toilet, but we made it work. There was also no AC and only one fan provided.
Getting Around
I HIGHLY recommend taking the train to/from Paris!!! Travel hassle free in 45 minutes from Paris Gare de l’Est to Reims nonstop!!!!! (about 35 Euros each way). The station is walkable to the city. Nanny Bag is a great option to store your bags if your room isn’t ready and don’t want to drag your suitcase over more cobblestones than necessary.
My friends had an 100% electric car and had major issues charging the car along the way. What should have taken a few hours ended up taking all day, and even missing our first tour at GH Mumm!!
We took an Uber from Reims to Épernay but could have taken the train in the same time, which we did for the return.
Let me know if you have any other specific questions about my trip and I am happy to share more!!!!
Leave a comment