Bubble Champagne Tour from Epernay (Small group half day tour)
Description
Discovery of the Côte des Blancs Grand Cru and the famous village and vineyard of Hautvillers in the historic hillsides of Champagne of the Marne Valley near Epernay listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In Hautvillers, village called the “Cradle of Champagne”, guided tour of the church of Dom Pérignon and the vineyard. Pause at the most beautiful viewpoint of Champagne and gain more understanding of vineyard management. Discovery tour of the Côte des Blancs, famous area for its Grand Cru Chardonnay 100% Blanc de Blancs. Visit the production site of a family of independent producer/grower followed by commented tasting of a selection of 3 Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru, as well as the essential alcohols spirits and aperitifs of champagne during additional tastings. Commented passage through the "Avenue de Champagne" in Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, called “the most expensive Avenue in the World” with its 200 million bottles in the cellars.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will start this half-day by going to the village of Hautvillers near Epernay which is the unmissable village of Champagne. 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 ! This will also be an opportunity to tell you about the history of Champagne and the region.
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! In this vineyard mainly planted with Pinot noir, we will tell you about the work of the vines, the grape varieties, this exceptional "Terroir" and sustainable viticulture.
After having been in the Marne Valley mainly planted with Pinot Noir, to the South of Epernay a few minutes away is the "Côte des Blancs" called the kingdom of the Champagne Chardonnay Grand Cru. Grand Cru is the highest level of the Champagne Appellation that only a few rare villages with vineyards hold and which are located mostly around Epernay. They produce the most renowned Champagnes of the region. During your discovery tour in "Côte des Blancs", we will go through Cramant and Avize which are famous villages Grand cru. We will also pass, in front of the largest bottles factory and near the famous "Chateau de Saran", the ultra private property where the luxury LVMH group (who owns Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Krug ...) receives its biggest customers and VIPs as well as the "Montaigu site" dedicated to the champagne making of Moët & Chandon.
Oger is another renowned Grand Cru village in "Côte des Blancs" with the famous "Blanc de Blancs" 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru. This is where we will visit an independent producer/grower, a family estate since 1864 with explanations on the Champagne making process, visit to the press, winery and cellar. You will taste three 100% Grand Cru Champagnes with tasting advice to discover the different Champagne such as natural Champagne without dosage, brut, vintage or even aged in oak barrels. It is a fairly confidential address, as locals and connoisseurs like it, perfect for discovering "real champagne" alongside the big names of Champagne Houses that you know. If you wish, you can buy Champagne in their shop as well as some souvenirs from your visit to Champagne!
During the tour you will also enjoy additional tastings : the three essential Champagne alcohols and aperitifs from the famous Goyard Distillery in Aÿ created in 1911, who is the oldest one in Champagne. The most famous one is the Ratafia Champenois which has been produced in Champagne since the 13th century. Ratafia is a sweet wine made from the same grape varieties as Champagne often drunk as an aperitif, digestif or with some dishes. A treasure that is still relatively unknown outside of the Champagne region because it is not widely exported, it offers an unrivalled range of flavours and aromas that you will discover with us. You will be a fan for sure ! You will have also discover Fine de la Marne and Marc de Champagne who are brandies that are very popular as digestives. *Depending on the season/weather, you will enjoy this special tasting enjoying a panoramic view of the vineyard around Epernay or at the family grower domain.
During a commented passage through the must-see Champagne UNESCO World Heritage Site "Avenue de Champagne" in Epernay, the Capital of the Champagne vineyard, we will 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. It is considered "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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(78)
It was a really great experience! The guide was a real winner (Maëlle) she really had passion for the tour and champagne, we learned and tasted a lot.
Make sure you book this tour with Phillippe! It was truly fabulous. He was so knowledgeable and entertaining throughout our tour given he grew up in the area and had worked in all aspects of champagne production and sales. In addition the business was so easy to deal with and so responsive. After our initial flights were cancelled they were very easy to reschedule when we were finally able to fly. The tour was very intimate so we had extremely personal attention and flexibility. Highly recommended. Thankyou Phillipe for an informative and fun tour.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted that you enjoyed your time with Philippe. As a local guide with extensive experience in Champagne production and sales, he loves sharing the region through both expert knowledge and personal stories. We are also pleased that we could accommodate your travel changes and make the rescheduling process as smooth as possible. Providing a responsive, flexible and personal service is something we care deeply about. Thank you for highlighting the intimate nature of the tour. Small groups allow for meaningful exchanges, flexibility, and a more authentic discovery of Champagne. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another Champagne experience !
Mael was an exceptional guide. She had a wealth of knowledge about the region and champagne and made our tour a wonderful experience! We would highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants a great experience in Champagne country!
Thank you so much for your kind review! It was a pleasure sharing the Champagne region with you. We are delighted you enjoyed the tour and hope to welcome you back to Champagne again someday!
The tour guide was very nice. But the tour itself was very boring. The thasting was done by the tour guide. The winery milan is an old shabby house. Champagners were cheap but nothing special. The other tasting was a sip of small bootles of high alcoholic drinks during the tour. If you are i lover of high quality champagnes i wouldnt recommend it for that price.
Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you appreciated your guide and her company throughout the experience. This tour is designed to offer an authentic introduction to Champagne, including vineyard panoramas in some of the region's most renowned Grand Cru villages, a visit to the Dom Pérignon Church, and a guided tour of a family-owned estate known for preserving traditional Champagne-making methods. Guests discover historic presses, traditional cellars, and a selection of distinctive Champagnes, including Grand Cru cuvées, vintage Champagnes, barrel-aged Champagnes, old-vine Champagnes, and Brut Nature styles. The experience also includes an introduction to rare regional spirits from Champagne's most renowned distillery, products that are not exported. We understand that Champagne preferences vary from one guest to another, but our aim is to showcase the authenticity, heritage, and diversity of the Champagne region through carefully selected visits and tastings.
Laid back, relaxing fun tour. Beautiful scenery, great stops to show history and current day Champagne!
Thank you for your review! We're pleased that you found our tour relaxing and enjoyable. It's wonderful to hear that you appreciated the beautiful Champagne scenery, as well as the blend of local history and present-day life. We hope to see you again soon! 🍾✨
We had a great private tour as the result of the other clients missing their plane. Maelle was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the region and champagne.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Our guides love sharing their passion for the region and Champagne with authenticity and enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming you again for another beautiful discovery in Champagne! 🍾✨
We had a wonderful experience with Maelle. She provided a great history and view of Rue de Champagne. Took us to 2 champagne producing regions. She had studied champagne making so her knowledge helped with any questions we had.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with our guide. We’re so pleased you enjoyed discovering the Avenue de Champagne and the different champagne-producing areas with her. Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back to Champagne someday! 🍾✨
Phenomenal guide, great experience touring champagne country! Thank you Mael for teaching us about Dom Perignon and the history of this region!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience touring Champagne UNESCO sites and learning about the history of the region and Dom Pérignon. Yes, our guide is truly passionate about sharing the heritage and culture of Champagne, and we’re so happy this made your visit memorable. We hope to welcome you again soon for another wonderful experience!
Very detailed and interesting tour was provided by Phillip. His passion for Champagne was appreciated.
Thank you very much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the detailed and interesting tour. Our guides are truly passionate about Champagne and its history, and it’s wonderful to know that this passion made your experience even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you again soon for another unforgettable visit to the Champagne region!
Although the trip advisor canceled our reservation, without any contact with us, the tour operator was extremely attentive and managed to fit us into another group on the same day. Except in the afternoon. The tour is very objective, but quite enlightening. I recommend!
Thank you very much for your kind review and recommendation! We’re sorry again for the inconvenience caused with the reservation, but we’re very happy we could find a solution and welcome you on the same day. It’s wonderful to hear that you found the tour informative and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you back again for another experience in the Champagne region!
